From One-Eyed Cats to 1,000 Trees: A Conversation with Michigan State University’s Grace Densham
- Claire Baltimore, Sam Clemente
- Dec 11, 2025
- 6 min read
Grace Densham When did you guys apply for LABash? MSU hasn't done it in apparently 30 years or so, so I don't think we're doing it anytime soon. We're always curious how far ahead you have to plan for LABash.
Sam Clemente It's sort of like a weird thing– two students applied two years ago, but they weren’t awarded it until 2026.
Grace Densham Hmm, interesting.
Sam Clemente Those people have graduated now, and we're doing it. Tell us about you. What's your name? How are you involved? What year?
Grace Densham Okay. I'm Grace Densham. I'm a fifth year Bachelor of Landscape Architecture student at Michigan State University, and I'm getting my Master of Arts in Environmental Design through the same program. I have a graduate specialization in sustainable agriculture and food systems.
I know that was a lot. And I'm graduating, shoot, in like four weeks. And then graduate in the spring with my master's degree. And I'm the president of the (Student Chapter ASLA) club.
Claire Baltimore You said that you will get your master's in environmental design?
Grace Densham Yes, yep, in the spring. I'm currently working on my capstone. I'm glad I did [the program] because I got to pick something I was really interested in, but I was struggling for about a year because I could not find anything I was interested in studying.
Sam Clemente What is that you're interested in? What are you working on for your thesis?
Grace Densham Community gardens. I'm actually going to stay up very late tonight to get caught up on some stuff. Laughs You guys know exactly what I mean. I'm also researching for my master's research certain community garden features that both increase garden longevity and vitality for maintenance, social interaction and long term success of the garden. I've gotten 50 responses so far, so I'm pretty happy about that.
I would let you do it, but it's only for people in Lansing, Michigan. What about you folks?
Claire Baltimore We're both third years. I'm a third year student in the landscape architecture program.
Sam Clemente And I am in civil engineering.
Grace Densham Welcome, welcome. We need you. Very important. How do you get roped into this?
Sam Clemente I was initially in landscape architecture and I was gonna be involved in LABash. And then, I just stayed on and I'm here for the ride.
Grace Densham Okay, well, we appreciate that. Thank you.
Sam Clemente I wanted to ask how many people are in your program?
Grace Densham We're actually the oldest program in the United States, and a few years ago we had our 125th Anniversary. We're older than Harvard in terms of program (established 1898!), but they are older than us in terms of graduates. But if anyone asks and they say Harvard had the first program, say, “Actually!”.
But yeah, MSU went through some rough patches in 2017 or so when they thought they might cut the program. So we're finally coming back up and starting to interact with other national programs more. We haven't done a parking day in five years or so. But we definitely need to get into the national spotlight more and enter more contests. We're the only LA program in Michigan for a bachelor's, so you know, we'd like to boost ourselves up. But the first step is chatting with other programs.
Grace Densham This is a cool building that you guys are in.
Claire Baltimore Thank you. We're very proud of it.
Sam Clemente I feel like I'm gonna fall off because there’s stairs behind us.
Grace Densham It's a little scary. I like the ceiling too.
For the past three years I've been trying to go to LABash and I have been one of the only people who's been interested in going. It's hard to get funding for one person. This year, because you guys are really close and it's my last hurrah, I'm gonna try really hard to gather some troops.
So I'm curious, what is the →schedule?
Sam Clemente On Wednesday afternoon, stuff is going to happen here in the school. We have our gallery, which is right below us, opening for 1000 trees. Claire made a beautiful one.
Claire Baltimore Thank you.
Sam Clemente And then, this *pointing to space down below* is where the exhibitor floor will be with a bunch of companies and firms.
Sam Clemente And then, in our big auditorium, we're gonna have an opening ceremony with trivia and we're gonna make a video. Then all day events on Thursday and Friday, with Friday night as the last thing. When is your spring break?
Claire Baltimore How many people are you gathering to come?
Grace Densham Oh, I forgot to answer the question about how many people are in our program too. I think we have around 15-20 people per class, and we have five classes. 65 or so students, I think. So, we're on the smaller side, but we keep getting bigger.
As for LABash, it's so hard when you're trying to get people interested in going to an event because they'll say, “oh, I don't know.” And then the week before there are four more people signed up and you're like, “oh, okay, that was really helpful for planning.” Maybe nine people.
Grace Densham Do you have a sketch crawl or anything planned? Just so I can hype up some people to go.
Sam Clemente Simple answer is yes. We have some field sessions. We might have a firm lead one in downtown Columbus. But there's also some pretty amazing lecturers. Our keynote is pretty notable. I don't know if I could say her name yet… or his name.
Grace Densham Is it a secret?
Sam Clemente We haven't even confirmed this person. But let's just say…
Grace Densham Okay, I'll wait.
Sam Clemente Yeah, it's suspense. It's suspense.
Grace Densham Is there anything first-time “LABashers” should know?
Claire Baltimore This will be the first time I go to LABash, too, so Sam that's all you.
Sam Clemente Hmm. Did you go to ASLA?
Grace Densham Yeah, we usually go to ASLA. I can't remember how many people we had this year, I think 13 or so.
Sam Clemente Okay, I see. LABash is sort of a scaled down version of it, but it has a similar structure and it's more tailored for students.
Grace Densham Nice.
Sam Clemente So I think one thing is to pack a bag during the day because the way our schedule is… it's pretty packed.
Grace Densham Okay, that's good advice. Are there networking or job/internship opportunities that companies offer?
Sam Clemente It was similar to ASLA in which there were firms and professionals stationed at some of these expos booths. And then there's plenty of professionals that speak at LABash that students could connect with.
Grace Densham Nice. I'm just trying to think of ways to sell it to people.
Sam Clemente And we could have a portfolio review, too. I think we could do that.
Grace Densham Great. Is there anything else you think we should know or?
Claire Baltimore We're trying to get exposure for the gallery. Just wondering if you guys have been hearing about that or if your chapter has been making any trees.
Grace Densham In January, we have a portfolio review to prepare for a career fair. And in February, it'd be really fun to have an entire club session dedicated to whipping out trees because that sounds great. We also might just 3D print them.
How many of those do you have? Because I don't want to send in like, forty 3D printed trees and then there's just a bunch of 3D printed trees.
Claire Baltimore I mean, that sounds great to me.
Sam Clemente The goal is 1000, so.
Grace Densham Yeah. Send them in! All right, well, do you folks have any questions for me?
Sam Clemente Do you have a fun fact or parting words that you want to share with everyone?
Grace Densham I used to have a cat with one eye. That's my fun fact. He was an ******* but I loved him. It used to be “I have a cat with one eye,” but now I “had.”
But that's my fun fact. I'm going to continue to use it because not a lot of people can share that fun fact.
Claire Baltimore Yeah, I don't think I've heard that one yet.
Grace Densham There you go. Yep.
Well, thank you for making some time to chat about this. This is awesome.
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