In Memoriam
 
Matthew D.Weaver

We would like to express our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Matt. Matt was a part of so many lives at the University of Maryland; the Swim Club, the Catholic Student Center, the Ag Ambassador, Honors, the Landscape Architecture Program and others. On this page we have collected items that we wanted to share to remember Matt's beautiful spirit.

 
 
 
Below is the letter Matt wrote for his application to the Landscape Architecture Program
 

December 9, 2004

For as long as I can remember I have loved the outdoors. I grew up in a house in the woods with a stream out back. I spent many long days discovering the wonders of the natural environment along that stream. Maybe that is why a common thread in the landscapes I enjoy the most is water. I grew up playing in it, swimming through it, and guarding the lives that use it. Should I become a landscape architect, I know that water will never be far.

As I have grown, my fascination and respect for the natural world has also grown. I have been fortunate enough in the past few years to visit places such as the mountain west, Spain , Fiji , Australia , and England . My most powerful memories of those places are of the landscapes and the emotions they inspired. Everyone has seen pictures of the Rocky Mountains and the Great Barrier Reef , but only climbing a mountain or diving into the Pacific Ocean can convey how it feels.

For most of my life, I have also been fascinated with architecture and design. Even as a child, I was doodling plans for houses, spaceships, skyscrapers, and swimming pools. When I began this journey, I saw landscape architecture as a means to an end, a way to explore two of my passions in a unique way. No other field of study offers me the same chance to blend my talents. I have come to realize that this field and the profession are more than just the sum of their parts. Landscape architecture has something unique to say about how we should treat the world, both in its human, artistic and natural dimensions.

More importantly, my deeply held faith will find an outlet in the design of places for both man and nature. I consider myself keenly aware of the interconnectedness we share with each other, and with the cosmos. My drive for environmental justice can find an outlet in this profession. I want to be able to wake up in the morning, look myself in the mirror and know that I am making a difference, that I am contributing something good to my world. I can imagine no greater gift than that.

Sincerely,

Matthew D.Weaver

 
 
At the end of his first semester Fall 2003 ,in his first design studio, Matt was required to submit a digital resume. He illustrates his love for travel and roller coasters. In Spring 2005 semester Matt created with his colleagues a plants brochure
 
Below are some of Matt's works for the various courses he took with us. The beautiful image below is the cover of Matt's portfolio.
 
 
 
 
Matt's design for the Aids Memorial was submitted to the National Aids Memorial competition in San Francisco. Below are photographs Matt took of his model.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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