THE NALPEXPERIENCE
Students Nurture Their Future Careers at 49th National Collegiate Landscape Competition
“I’d rather sacrifice those spring breaks of going to the beach and going out and partying now and coming to something like this that can better my future,” says Skylar Bates, a junior double majoring in landscape architecture and landscape contracting at Mississippi State University. “It can propel me in my future. I can meet a bunch of professionals and create different opportunities for myself, as opposed to going to the beach and just sitting there. I just think this is more important. I prioritize my career and where I want to be as opposed to just simple pleasures.” This year’s event was hosted at Colorado State University in
Fort Collins, Colorado, from March 19-21, 2025, and featured 56 competing schools. The event kicked off with the ever-popular roll call during the opening ceremony on Wednesday, March 19. The final four schools for the best cheer included the College of DuPage, Wallace State Community College, Colorado State Universi- ty and Owens Community College. Before doing their cheer, Owens
Community College shared with the crowd how this would be their last year as their program was being shut down. In a sign of solidarity, Owens Community College won
By Jill Odom
THE 770 STUDENTS WHO ATTENDED THE 49TH NATIONAL COLLEGIATE LANDSCAPE COMPETITION, PRESENTED BY NALP and powered by STIHL, are of a different caliber. While other college students spent their spring break enjoying some off time, these participants were busy attending workshops, studying, networking with industry professionals and competing in 30 different competitive events to test their skills.
the roll call by a landslide as chants of ‘Owens, Owens’ filled the Lincoln Center. First-time attendee Bella Yarneau, a junior majoring in busi- ness administration at Illinois State University, says she’s never experienced anything quite like NCLC. “It’s given me more of an insight that I’ve never really had
before, and it’s giving me a whole new perspective on things, which I love,” Yarneau says. Michele Posehn, senior recruiting manager for SiteOne Landscape Supply, says every year she comes to the event, it shows the industry’s great future. “These students, they elevate themselves year after year
after year,” Posehn says. “They’re not only involved in their major but they’re involved at the school. They’re involved in their community. They have a pathway. They have goals that they’ve set for themselves. So that’s what I admire about those students.”
FINDING THEIR CHAMPIONS Throughout the event, students were encouraged to
connect with industry professionals and find their champions. During the career fair, many realized the breadth of paths available in the industry. “It honestly was incredible to see all the different aspects in one condensed place; just walking around and seeing the different opportunities available was awesome,” says Josiah Hull, a senior plant science and landscape technology major at Cuyahoga Community College. Katelyn Milanes, director of culture and employee engagement for Fisk Lawnscapes, based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, says they had heard about NCLC for years and were eager to attend with it in their backyard. She says they participated primarily to connect with students and build a long-term pipeline of talent. “It’s just our first time, and we plan to continue
coming forever now,” Milanes says. “It’s just a great opportunity to connect with future talent, build that pipeline and build those relationships. It’s invaluable.” Posehn says for SiteOne, this is the largest recruiting
event they do every year. “When you can talk to that many students and professors
14 The Edge //May/June 2025
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