The last time the CSU Team participated in PLANET’S Student Career Days, the National Collegiate Landscape Competition, it was a home game. The 2014 event took place on the Fort Collins campus in somewhat challenging conditions, which included a significant snowfall. In addition to garnering several individual awards, the team placed 7th overall out of 65 teams.
National honors
As the team traveled to North Carolina State University for the 2015 competition in March, they knew that they could and would place higher than the year before. And they did – CSU placed 4th out of 65 teams at the 2015 Student Career Days event.
Three faculty members from the CSU Landscape Design and Contracting and the Landscape Business programs traveled with the team of 21 students who competed in event which took place March 11-15.
Largest collegiate competition
Student Career Days is considered the largest collegiate competition event in the country. Students compete in events and attend workshops that are directly related to the skills they’ll need to succeed in the industry: landscape design, irrigation management, hardscape installation, plant identification, business management, and many more.
“Our Landscape Design and Contracting and the Landscape Business students continue to demonstrate that by combining a world-class education with real life experiences, they can succeed at any level,” said Zach Johnson, Landscape Industry Certified, associate professor at Colorado State University. “Our students have never been in greater demand.”
Top 5
Not only did the CSU team earn high marks, several team members were recognized with Top 5 honors:
- Anna Cordiner and Catherine Johnson – 2nd place, Personnel Management
- Scott Curry – 3rd place, Interior Landscape Design; 5th place, Plant Problem Diagnosis
- Catherine Johnson – 2nd place, Computer Aided Landscape Design
- Keith McCaskell – 5th place, Sales Presentation
- Thomas Zimmerman – 2nd place, Business Management; 4th place, Turf and Weed Identification
The Landscape Design and Contracting and the Landscape Business programs can be followed on Instagram at: CSULANDSCAPE.
About PLANET
In April 2015, PLANET was renamed the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP). NALP is the national trade association representing more than 100,000 landscape industry professionals, who create and maintain healthy, green living spaces for communities across America. NALP members are committed to the highest standards in industry education, best practices, and business professionalism. Many of NALP’s professionals have attained the status of becoming Landscape Industry Certified, achieving the greatest level of industry expertise and knowledge. Visit NALP at www.landcarenetwork.org.
