CSU welcomed National Collegiate Landscape Competition Email
Written by ALCC   
Tuesday, April 09, 2019 05:00 AM

National Collegiate Landscape Competition

Colorado State University (CSU) hosted the 43rd annual National Collegiate Landscape Competition (NCLC) March 20-23, welcoming 844 students from 64 colleges and universities for three days of workshops, competitions, and the landscape industry’s largest career fair.

Though the NCLC is a National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) event, the logistics were a big undertaking for the team at CSU, led by professors Elizabeth Hobbs and Zachary S. Johnson, PLA, CLT, CLP and was the culmination of two years of preparations. With the efforts of volunteer coordinator Deb Newman, CSU filled 276 volunteer slots to make the event a success. Volunteers, which included green industry professionals, CSU alumni and students, and master gardeners, helped with check-in, logistics, judging, and more.

Workshops offered education in nearly every aspect of the landscape industry: cost estimating, design, plant ID, irrigation, and equipment operation among others. Scholarships were awarded in a ceremony on March 20. And in the competitions, students were able to demonstrate real-world skills in front of professionals.

The CSU student team represented Colorado well, placing sixth overall. Individual CSU students also scored in the top ten of several categories:

  • Business Management: #1 - Karen Lamb
  • Construction cost estimating: #3 - Chris Tragakes CSU & #6 - Kelci Van Treece
  • Irrigation assembly: #3 - Axel Anderson and Spencer Bernard
  • Irrigation design: #10 - Axel Anderson
  • Irrigation troubleshooting: #5 - Axel Anderson and Spencer Bernard
  • Landscape lighting: #3 - Kelci Van Treese
  • Maintenance cost estimating: #7 - Carol Sousa and #9 - Chris Tragakes
  • Small engine repair: #2 - Jordan Salisbury

NCLC 2019

Read more in this issue of Colorado Green NOW:
Healthcare Considerations for Landscape Contractors (part 3 of 3)
NALP releases new research for Lawn Care Month
Rules governing calculation of overtime rates to be updated
Steinhauer named to Circle of Excellence