Two Colorado schools showed their skills at virtual landscape competition Email
Written by Colorado Green NOW   
Tuesday, April 06, 2021 03:30 AM

Due to the pandemic, the 2021 National Collegiate Landscape Competition (NCLC) was held virtually in March. Activities and challenges were reimagined in the virtual format and teams were given multiple options to earn points for their schools from their remote locations. Challenges were on the honor system and were individually scored. Points from individual challenges didn’t roll up to a team score this year.

Two Colorado schools participated in the competition this year. In addition to event regulars Colorado State University, Pickens Technical College students took advantage of the virtual format to showcase their skills.  

Six students from Colorado State University, which is always a strong team at the competitions, placed in the top five in seven challenges:

  • Emma Smith was first in both Exterior Landscape Design and Plant Problem Diagnosis
  • Stephen Canepa, third in Woody Ornamental Plant ID
  • Korbin Reed, third in Irrigation Design
  • Theodore Huckestein, fourth in Robotics & Technology in Landscape Design & Maintenance
  • Devon Wolfe, fourth in Computer-aided Design
  • Meggie Kurth, fifth in Maintenance Cost Estimating

Two current Pickens students, Rachel Thomas and Baylee Sigg, also participated in the challenges. Due to travel limitations, Pickens students have participated at NCLC only when it was held in Fort Collins in 2019 and in the virtual event. Their strong performances at the virtual event were impressive for relative newcomers to the competition.  

To prepare for the annual and perennial identification competition, Pickens supported their students by compiling a study list and holding study sessions to complement the students’ own preparation efforts. Pickens was proud to see Thomas place 12th and Sigg place 16th in the event—an impressive showing among 58 competitors and 26 schools.

Baylee Sigg also participated in as many additional events and challenges as she was able. Both Pickens students will graduate in May. “We are extremely proud of these students,” said Donna Nuding, adjunct instructor in the Urban Horticulture and Landscape program at Pickens.

See all of the CSU students' results

See all of the Pickens students' results.

Read more in this issue of Colorado Green NOW:
Remember anti-discrimination compliance when recruiting
National Lawn Care Month addresses climate change

ALCC announces 2021 scholarship recipients

Michael Womochil, key proponent of Landscape Career Pathways, to retire