Downtown Waco Bike Lanes and Trails
Student Activities and Volunteering
Urban Planning students can accelerate their studies and career potential by volunteering their time at APATX19! Membership in APA is free for students, so sign up for APA before registering for the conference to save some money. Here are some of the opportunities for students at APATX19:
Free Registration with Volunteer Hours
Student Volunteers receive refund of their student registration fee – Students who volunteer to work a 4-hour shift during the conference will receive a refund of their $50 Student Early Registration fee. Volunteer tasks include session monitors, ticket takers at luncheons and receptions, and registration helpers.
The volunteer schedule will be finalized before the start of the conference by the APATX19 PSO Committee.Students who signed up to volunteer will be emailed their volunteer assignments. Please direct all volunteer questions to Samantha Bradley (samantha.frazier2@mavs.uta.edu) and Kelsey Poole (kmp456@gmail.com).
University Central
Thinking about earning a graduate degree and wanting to know which planning school to choose? Or looking for a new graduate to hire an upcoming rock star for your planning department? Texas Universities with planning degree programs and Planning Student Organizations (PSOs) registered with the American Planning Association will display information about their planning schools and student activities. PSOs and Emerging Planning Leaders will show off the results of the annual Legacy Project. University Central is the place to be for planning students to network and show their stuff.
Professional Development
The conference program includes over 60 technical sessions, offering training and education for students and for practicing planning professionals alike.
Employment and Internship Opportunities
A Job Mart Board is available near registration for employers to post job notices for communities, agencies and consultant employment and internship opportunities.
Student Awards
Each year, APATX recognizes a student project as part of the overall Chapter Awards Program. The Call for Award Nominations begins on April 1, 2019. Student projects are recognized at the Annual Awards Program Luncheon which will take place on Friday, November 8, 2019.
Career Enhancement
Attend the Leadership Forum on Wednesday, Nov. 6 at 3:30 to 5:30 pm, to learn career building skills and strategies, taught by APA national and Texas Chapter leaders. Recognize the benefits of APA involvement for developing your professional profile.
AICP Exam Preparation Workshop
Wednesday | 12:30 pm - 6:30pm | $60
The most recent APA/AICP Planners Salary Survey shows that certified planners earn more than noncertified planners, even when experience and responsibility are considered. It also opens more career opportunities and can enhance a planner's professional credibility — four out of five AICP members attribute their career advancement to having earned AICP certification.
Planing on taking the AICP Exam? There is no better training in Texas than at APATX19. Learn helpful study tips and test-taking strategies for the exam, review major topic areas covered, and identify important study aids and resources. Taught by one of the nation's leading AICP exam preparation instructors, Jennifer Evans-Crowley, PhD, AICP.
Free Headshots
The Emerging Planning Leaders will be hosting free headshots by a professional photographer during APATX19. Is it time for you to update your Linked-In photo? Wear your best threads and simply show up to have your photo taken!
Expand your Network of Texas Planners
Upwards of 800 practicing planners and planning officials are expected to attend the 2.5-day Texas State Planning Conference and Short Course for Appointed and Elected Officials. Social events allow opportunities for networking with your peers and colleagues.
Legacy Project
Participate in a hands-on planning exercise to gain real-world experience and add to your resume. The Legacy Project began in 2015 as a hands-on community planning effort that is intended to create a lasting impact on the host city or area. The Legacy Project is developed in partnership with students and the Emerging Planning Leaders (EPL). Below are the Legacy Projects that have been completed over the past 4 years.
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2015: Tactical urbanism project to create a pop-up park in Downtown Galveston
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2016: Design charette for the Frio Street Corridor in Downtown San Antonio
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2017: Competition among universities to develop concepts to reimagine Downtown Frisco
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2018: Competition among universities to develop resiliency plans Hitchcock, Texas, which was impacted by Hurricane Harvey
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2019: Parklet competition (see below)
APATX2019 Legacy Project Student: Parking Day Waco
This year at the Texas APA Conference, the Legacy Project will be a competition between Texas Universities to transform a parking spot into a parklet on Austin Avenue in Waco, Texas. With the support of sponsoring planning firms, teams will design and construct a functional parklet that not only attracts pedestrians to the parklet but inspires "lively street activity" around the parking space and along Austin Ave. Parklet designs should be aesthetically appealing, functional, and inviting to a variety of pedestrians and shoppers. Most of all, parklets should capture Waco’s vision for a “Greater Downtown.”
Parklet designs will be judged based on a scoring rubric that considers the parklet’s overall design and concept, innovative use of materials, its functionality, relevance to local environment and Waco’s Downtown vision, and its consideration for sustainable development.
Interact with the student parklets during the Thursday night social, which is taking place on Austin Ave on November 7th from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm!
Parklet judging will take place during the Thursday night social. One winner will be determined by combining the judges scores with a popular vote. Be sure to vote for your favorite parklet during the Friday afternoon Awards Luncheon!
View this year's Legacy Project Scope of Work to learn more about this year’s challenge.
Contacts
Monica Rainey, Emerging Planning Leaders Chair - Monica.Rainey@kimley-horn.com
Kelsey Poole, Universities Student Representative - kmp456@gmail.com
Participating Schools:
