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The National Collegiate Landscape Competition returned to East Lansing, Mich., this year, celebrating its 50th anniversary at Michigan State University. Hosted by the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP), the competition drew about 800 students from 56 colleges and universities to campus.
The event served as not just a celebration, but a launchpad for the next generation of landscape professionals.
“For any event to last 50 years … it really doesn’t happen that often in any industry,” says Britt Wood, CEO of NALP. “It’s just a testament to the industry, to the universities and the collaborative nature of their working relationship together.”
Wood sees the event not only as a significant anniversary but as a long-term partnership between industry professionals and students entering the field.
“This is an event where you get to see the future being molded today,” he says. “It’s about youth. It’s about experience. It’s about the preservation and the continued growth of an industry.”
Since becoming NALP CEO six years ago, Wood has aimed to strengthen the bond between students and industry professionals outside of just the traditional competitions. The introduction of networking breakfasts and scholarship receptions has given students the opportunity to get familiar with different people in the industry.
This vision resonates with students like Alayna Hoglen, a University of Georgia agriculture major with an emphasis in horticulture. Hoglen decided to attend NCLC after hearing it was “an immaculate place to bond, network and understand the industry.”
“I am expanding my potential and perceiving that I can achieve greater than the imaginary glass ceiling I have made for myself,” she says.
In the competition, Cuyahoga Community College in Cleveland, Ohio, captured the top spot in the team competition, ending Brigham Young-Provo’s two-year reign in that spot. BYU-Provo ended up in second, with Mississippi State, Colorado State and Michigan State rounding out the top five.
Top individual finishers were Nate Hawks with Michigan State in first, Josiah Hull with Cuyahoga Community College in second and Connor Lejman with College of DuPage in third place.
This year’s champs will get to defend their title on home turf as Cuyahoga Community College will play host to NCLC 2027, March 17-20.
