MSU Places Third at NALP National Collegiate Landscape Competition in North Carolina

Brad Rowe - March 19, 2018

Team members competed against 710 students representing 62 colleges and universities from across the United States and Canada.

Michigan State University’s Student Horticulture Association’s landscape team placed third at the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) National Collegiate Landscape Competition (NCLC) that was held March 14-17 in Graham, NC. The four-day event consisted of educational workshops, a career fair, and 30 competitive events which have been termed the Landscape Olympics. Team members competed against 710 students representing 62 colleges and universities from across the United States and Canada.

The team was composed of students from Horticulture and the Institute of Agricultural Technology Landscape and Nursery Management Program. Team members included Jocelyn Brumwell, Rachel Burdt, Ryan DeMorrow, Amanda Denney, Drew Edington, Melissa Eggleston, Nick Fortuna, Tyler Gilson, Tyler Hampton, Corrine Johnston, Brad Koetje, Annie Levardsen, Max McNulty, Lauren Scott, Cheyenne Sloan, Anthony Soster, Caleb Spall, Landon Tillmann, Caleb Walton, Delainey Williams, Nicholas Wilson, and team coaches Marcus Duck and Brad Rowe. Faculty members Kristin Getter, Susan Gruber, Norm Lownds, and Bob Schutzki also attended and assisted with the team.

Top performances in individual events included:

Tyler Gilson, 3D Exterior Landscape Design (1st)
Jocelyn Brumwell, Business Management (1st)
Rachel Burdt, Plant Problem Diagnosis (1st)
Anthony Soster, Maintenance Cost Estimating (2nd)
Tyler Hampton, Turf and Weed ID (3rd)
Amanda Denney, Annual and Perennial ID (4th)
Caleb Spall, Interior Plant ID (4th)
Landscape Lighting, Drew Edington (4th)
Landscape Maintenance Operations, Team of Tyler Gilson and Brad Koetje (5th)
Team of Tyler Gilson and Tyler Hampton, Employee Development (6th)
Team of Melissa Eggleston and Anthony Soster, Irrigation Troubleshooting (6th)
Melissa Eggleston, Irrigation Design (6th)
Team of Landon Tillman and Caleb Walton, Wood Construction (6th)
Cheyenne Sloan, Turf and Weed ID (7th)
Corrine Johnston, Woody Ornamental Plant ID (8th)

SosterIrrigationEvent

Max McNulty, Construction Cost Estimating (9th)
Team of Drew Edington and Brad Koetje, Hardscape Installation (9th)
Team of Melissa Eggleston and Anthony Soster, Irrigation Assembly (9th)
Mini Track Loader Operation, Caleb Walton (9th)
Tyler Gilson, Construction Cost Estimating (10th)
Jocelyn Brumwell, Annual and Perennial ID (11th)
Delainey Williams, Flower and Foliage ID (11th)
Delainey Williams, Sales Presentation (12th)
Nicholas Wilson, Tractor Loader Backhoe Operation (12th)

Top scorers for MSU were Tyler Gilson (453), Brad Koetje (275), Anthony Soster (253), and Melissa Eggleston (252). For scoring the most points among all 710 students, Tyler came in second place in the Superstar Award that goes to the overall student with the highest number of points. He was only 0.86 points behind the first place finisher. In addition, special congratulations go to Nick Fortuna, Tyler Gilson, and Anthony Soster for being awarded scholarships from the NALP Foundation and to Marcus Duck for being named the NALP Educator of the Year.

Team members worked diligently all year raising money to finance the trip through Student Horticulture Association activities such as their Spring Show. They also acknowledge the following industry sponsors that donated nearly $12,000 to help support the team:

Rachel Burdt Nick Fortuna Arboriculture