Horticulture Students Showcase Skills On National Stage

MARIETTA, GA -- Fifteen Chattahoochee Technical College horticulture students recently took part in the 40th Annual National Collegiate Landscape Competition, a three-day event designed to jump start horticultural careers for college students.

Organized by the National Association of Landscape Professionals (formerly known as PLANET), the event was held March 16-19 at Mississippi State University. More than 600 students from approximately 65 universities and colleges competed in events directly related to the skills necessary for a career in the green industry, including tree climbing, hardscape installation, wood construction, sales presentation, skid steer operation and plant identification.

They also took advantage of a career fair that allowed recruiters from approximately 75 companies to interview students for jobs.

Led by instructor John Hatfield, Chattahoochee Technical College’s team scored a combined 2393.30 points at the competition to secure a 23rd-place finish. Along with the school’s overall achievement, CTC student and Hiram resident Scott Faulkner was announced as a top finisher at the event, placing 20th out of 683 individual competitors and scoring 346.50 points in the five events he competed in.

In addition, CTC student Aaron Driver of Powder Springs earned a sixth-place finish in the business management event; Nathan Byrd, of Powder Springs, finished third in compact excavator operation; Darious Hopkins of Powder Springs and Driver finished 10th in hardscape installation; and Denna Pace of Woodstock finished ninth in turf and weed identification.

Additional members of Chattahoochee Technical College’s team were: William Kramer of Marietta; Nathaniel Brigham of Marietta; Dylan Cochran of Adairsville; Sylvia Ramey, of Marietta; Josh Schrager of Marietta; Luke Brummeler of Marietta; Heiny Martinez of Atlanta; Asa Weems of Marietta; Molly Ferguson of Marietta; and Corey Cantlon of Dallas.

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Photo: Fifteen Chattahoochee Technical College horticulture students recently attended the 40th Annual National Collegiate Landscape Competition. Pictured, from left, are: Asa Weems, Heiny Martinez, Sylvia Ramey, William Kramer, Molly Ferguson, Scott Faulkner, Darious Hopkins, Aaron Driver, Josh Schrager, Dylan Cochran, Nathaniel Brigham, Corey Cantlon, Luke Brummeler, Denna Pace, Nathan Byrd and Instructor John Hatfield. Credit: Chattahoochee Technical College