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High school landscape competitions SkillsUSA
High school landscape competition
NALP Foundation and UAC partner with SkillsUSA
In June 2022, the NALP Foundation held
a demonstration for a high school landscape competition and showcased careers in the landscape and lawn care industry to more than 12,000 students and educators at the SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference (NSLC) in Atlanta, GA. UAC Executive Director Mary Kay Woodworth, NALP Foundation’s Jenn Myers and Pamela Moore, and Oklahoma horticulture instructor Kara Murphy teamed up to present the inaugural National Skills USA Landscape Competition and Careers Booth at the Georgia World Congress Center. There was tremendous interest from educators, state directors and students. Along with a written test component (general horticulture, landscape/turf operations, and plant care knowledge), students in the new Landscape Horticulture competition will need to demonstrate skills including plant ID (perennials, annuals, ornamental grasses, and woody plants), evaluation of client needs/scope of work, landscape design, estimating, and sales presentation. To justify a national competition, SkillsUSA requires at least 15 states participate with their own state competition. To date, 11 states have confirmed interest in establishing a state-level competitive event. The Foundation will continue to promote the competition to the remaining states and will initiate a plan to support the 11 states committed to establishing their state competition. “The NALP Foundation is committed to this initiative and will further our efforts by supporting state competitions, educators and students”, says Jenn Myers, executive director of the NALP Foundation. She went on to say that, “SkillsUSA is a great forum to educate young people about professional careers in the landscape and lawn care industry.” SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference will be held in Atlanta for the next four years. In 2023, the Foundation will expand its footprint at NLSC with a larger career booth and sponsorship of the Techspo lounge. If you or your organization is interested in contributing to this effort, please reach out via email to foundation@landscapeprofessionals.org.
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