MSU Horticulture Places Second at NALP National Collegiate Landscape Competition in Utah

March 22, 2017

Michigan State University's Student Horticulture Association landscape team participated in the 41st Annual NALP (National Association of Landscape Professionals) National Collegiate Landscape Competition last week in Provo, Utah. The four-day event consisted of educational workshops, a career fair, and 29 competitive events which have been termed the Landscape Olympics. Team members competed against 672 students representing 60 colleges and universities from across the United States and Canada. MSU once again made a strong showing finishing in second place behind the host school, Brigham Young University.

The team was composed of students from the Department of Horticulture and the Institute of Agricultural Technology Landscape and Nursery Management Program. Team members included Josh Beasley, Trenton Bowen, Jocelyn Brumwell, Beth Copeland, Zack Dueweke, Nick Fortuna, Tyler Gilson, Stephanie Makela, Abby Makowski, Lauren Niergarth, Josh Nieuwsma, Charlie Pacer, Lee Rainey, Wesley Raker, Cheyenne Sloan, Anthony Soster, Landon Tillmann, Corinne Tucker, Preston Zoellner, and team coaches Marcus Duck and Brad Rowe. Club advisors Norm Lownds and Bob Schutzki also attended and assisted with the team.

Top 15 Performances in Individual Events

Tyler Gilson, 3D Exterior Landscape Design (1st) Tyler Gilson, Computer Aided Landscape Design (1st) Jocelyn Brumwell, Business Management (1st) Corinne Tucker, Exterior Landscape Design (1st) Team of Anthony Soster and Preston Zoellner, Irrigation Assembly (1st) Preston Zoellner, Irrigation Design (1st) Josh Beasley, Landscape Lighting (1st) Stephanie Makela, Plant Problem Diagnosis (1st) Lauren Niergarth, Interior Plant ID (2nd) Team of Tyler Gilson and Lee Rainey, Landscape Maintenance Operations (2nd) Team of Tyler Gilson and Wesley Raker, Employee Development (3rd) Team of Zack Dueweke and Lee Rainey, Hardscape Installation (4th) Jocelyn Brumwell, Annual and Perennial ID (6th) Cheyenne Sloan, Turf and Weed ID (6th) Team of Josh Nieuwsma and Lee Rainey, Wood Construction (6th) Josh Beasley, Compact Excavator Operation (8th) Team of Beth Copeland, Zack Dueweke, and Tyler Gilson, Landscape Plant Installation (7th) Charlie Pacer, Maintenance Cost Estimating (7th) Josh Nieuwsma, Construction Cost Estimating (8th) Corinne Tucker, Interior Plant ID (9th) Josh Nieuwsma, Tractor Loader Backhoe Operation (10th) Charlie Pacer, Sales Presentation (11th) Corinne Tucker, Interior Landscape Design (12th) Team of Anthony Soster and Preston Zoellner, Irrigation Troubleshooting (12th) Nick Fortuna, Plant Problem Diagnosis (13th) Team of Josh Beasley and Lee Rainey, Truck and Trailer Operation (13th) Abby Makowski, Woody Ornamental Plant ID (13th) Nick Fortuna, Skidsteer Operation (14th)

Top Scorers for MSU

Tyler Gilson (453), Lee Rainey (332), Josh Beasley (311), Corinne Tucker (252), Preston Zoellner (244), Zack Dueweke (239), and Josh Nieuwsma (221). For scoring the most points among all 672 students, Tyler won the Superstar Award and the associated $1,500 check that goes with it. For winning the irrigation design competition, Preston Zoellner was awarded an all-expenses paid trip to Seattle, Washington, to attend the American Society of Irrigation Consultants convention that will be held in April. Also, Tyler Gilson and Lee Rainey received $2000 in Husqvarna equipment for winning the Landscape Maintenance Operations event. In addition, special congratulations go to Abby Makowski, Josh Nieuwsma, Lee Rainey, Corinne Tucker, and Preston Zoellner for being awarded scholarships ranging from $1000 to $2700 from the NALP Foundation. Overall, the team came home with over $12,000 in scholarships and awards.