The National Collegiate Landscape Competition kicked off at Auburn University on March 7. The event, in its 37th year, is the largest annual gathering of green industry companies and students.
It offers the chance for companies to meet and interview the nation’s most promising horticulture and landscape students and brings together industry’s largest equipment manufacturers to meet the next generation.
More than 800 students from 60 colleges from around the country jumped into workshops on March 7 to learn more about the events they would be competing in on March 10.
There are 28 different individual and team events which directly relate to the skills necessary for a career in the industry, including arboriculture, 3-D landscape design, irrigation techniques, hardscape installation, plant identification, and business management.
Students also attended a career fair, career development series, and many received scholarships. PLANET Academic Excellence Foundation (PLANET AEF) is awarding 68 scholarships worth $74,300 this season, many of which are given out at the event.
This year’s Student Career Days major sponsors include Stihl Inc. at the Platinum level; John Deere at the Gold level; Caterpillar Inc., Gravely, and New Holland Construction at the Silver level; and Belgard, Brickman, Husqvarna, and Pavestone at the Bronze level.
For more information, call 800/395-2522 or visit, www.studentcareerdays.org.
