Under the towering gaze of the Y Mountain peak, the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) hosted its annual National Collegiate Landscape Competition (NCLC) March 15-18 in Provo, Utah, home of Brigham Young University—Provo. Though winter storms on the East Coast prevented some universities from attending, 61 teams competed in this year’s event.
The hometown team was the overall winner of the competition. Tyler Gilson from Michigan State University (who LM interviewed last year after his team won the overall competition) won the individual competition.
The 29 competitions included events that tested the students’ skills in arboriculture, hardscape installation, wood construction, plant identification, sales presentation, exterior/interior design, irrigation troubleshooting, skid-steer maneuverability, 3D exterior landscape design, personnel management and more.
The competition isn’t the only event at NCLC. The event also features a career fair where nearly 80 landscape companies met with students to network and discuss job and internship opportunities in the industry. NALP also launched its new career site and job board, LandscapeIndustryCareers.org.
“I just hope this event creates drive and that the students can see what some of these companies can do,” NALP President Brett Lemcke told LM last year at the event. “Coming from a small town, I had a narrow view of what my company could do in my market. This event just opens your eyes, expands your view of what’s out there in this industry.”
Students were also honored at the Foundation scholarship reception. Fifty-eight students received scholarships totaling $75,000.
Next year’s event will be held at Alamance Community College in Graham, N.C., March 13-17.
Click here for a full list of winners, and read a recap of last year’s event here.
