Clash of the colleges

It was a true test of brawn, brains and teamwork at the National Association of Landscape Professionals’ annual National Collegiate Landscape Competition this month.

This year’s event was held at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, with the host team walking away with top honors. Overall, more than 600 college students from 50 schools competed in the three-day event.

Students tested their maneuverability skills in events such as compact track and skid-steer loader operation, their knowledge of horticulture in interior plant identification and their perseverance in the small engine repair event — among other events including hardscape installation, irrigation assembly and troubleshooting, landscape maintenance operations and more.

“We want the students to know that they have amazing career opportunities in front of them with an entire industry supporting them,” says NALP CEO Britt Wood. “These students have their choice of great companies from across the country to work for. Competing at a national level and interacting with industry leaders at NCLC is a confidence booster for students. We hope the experience motivates and inspires these students to pursue careers in landscape professions.”

The event also features an extensive career fair, where students can network with landscape companies from across the country as well as suppliers.

Jimmie Sumpler, a 27-year-old student from the College of DuPage, competed in the interior plant identification event and said she did pretty well.

Sumpler, who has competed in two NCLC competitions, says she loves the event because it’s a great way to network with others passionate about the green industry.

“I love it — I’ve made a lot of connections,” she says. “After attending an event like this, I’ll know what to expect when I’m a rookie out in this industry.”

The Top 10 schools competing in NCLC also included:

• Brigham Young University – Provo ( 5,099.74)
• Cuyahoga Community College (4,741.06)
• Colardo State University (4,471.51)
• Brigham Young University – Idaho (4,407.50)
• Michigan State University (4,260.14)
• Penn State University (4,098.20)
• Mississippi State University (3,746.91)
• Kansas State University (3,656.25)
• North Carolina State University (3,625.86)
• Virginia Tech (3,574.81).

The Top 10 highest ranking students competing this year were:

• Caleb Krautz, Cuyahoga Community College, with a score of 449
• Christian Schloegel, College of DuPage, 434.25
• Henry Holmes, University of Massachusetts – Amherst, 410
• Geroge Chabre, Cal Poly – San Luis Obispo, 405
• Destiny Griffiths, Cuyahoga Community College, 399
• Parker Stephenson, Michigan State University, 381.75
• Laura Snyder, Pennsylvania College of Technology, 372.30
• Charles Belton, Alamance Community College, 358.25
• Carinda Washburn, Clackamas Community College, 348.50
• Tyler Williamson, University of Georgia, 348

Brad Geary, with Brigham Young University, and Todd West, with North Dakota State University, are faculty members who have been attending NCLC for decades. Both men agree the opportunities available for students at the event are endless.

“It’s all about networking and letting them see that what they’re going to school for is so much bigger than just the classroom,” Geary says.

West agrees and says the competition is just the fun part — but the true value comes in connection.

“All these companies at the career fair are trying to make careers happen for these students,” he says. “It’s great.”

The NCLC Career Fair included hundreds of companies and supplies — including dozens of Lawn & Landscape Top 100 companies such as BrightView, Bartlett Tree Experts, Dennis’ 7 Dees Landscaping & Garden Centers, EMI, Gothic Landscape, HeartLand, LandCare and dozens of others.

“We’re hoping to make a positive brand impression with all of these students, so they remember us when the time comes,” says Mike Bogan, CEO of LandCare.

Bogan adds the company uses NCLC as a yearly recruiting opportunity to find everything from interns to new hires.

Dean DeSantis, president of DeSantis Landscapes, says his company also loves to utilize the event as a way to discover new talent.

“We have a few internships to fill and a few roles that would be perfect for someone right out of college,” he says.

Emma Quigley, a 24-year-old BYU student, says she feels the NCLC Career Fair is the perfect place to learn more about the industry and hopefully find her next adventure.

“I’m hoping to expand my network, make some good connections and just have fun,” she says.

And the fun doesn’t stop now that the event is over.

Students and faculty are already setting their sights on next year’s competition, which will be held at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado, March 19-22, 2025. Then, NCLC will travel to Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan, March 18-21, 2026.

“In two years, we'll celebrate the 50^th anniversary of NCLC, and the event gets better each year,” Wood says. “NCLC has incredible support from faculty, industry contractors, and suppliers. We are actively promoting NCLC to college programs that haven't participated before. Also, NCLC is growing its impact: we'll be adding more avenues for student-company interactions, strengthening student career-building opportunities.”