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NEWS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                         Contact: Vicki Bendure, APR
                                                                                                                           (540) 687-3360 or 
                                                                                                                            Lisa Schaumann 
                                                                                                                           (540) 687-5099


NATIONAL COLLEGIATE LAWN CARE AND LANDSCAPE COMPETITION TO BE HELD AT CAL POLY, POMONA, MARCH 26–29, 2009

HERNDON, Va., January 26, 2009 — Move over robotics, engineering, geography, and mathlete competitions. The nation’s college horticulture departments are bringing their one-of-a-kind brand of competition to Cal Poly in Pomona, California, March 26–29, 2009.

Student Career Days (SCD) is an annual three-day event that has students from across the country competing in events that are directly related to the skills necessary for a career in the green industry, including tree climbing, patio building, wood construction, skid steer operation, plant identification, and more. The event, in its 33rd year, is organized by the nation’s lawn and landscape association, the Professional Landcare Network (PLANET).

“Our students like to participate because they get to travel to a different part of the country and test their skills against hundreds of students in the other programs,” said Brad Rowe, Ph.D., associate professor of horticulture at Michigan State University. “The networking is also really important. They make connections with top national companies.”

Students raise money to travel to the event to show off their skills in front of hundreds of lawn and landscape employment recruiters. “Our students raise money using their horticulture skills,” said Rowe. “They grow and sell pumpkins on campus in the fall and plants in the spring.”

Also, during SCD, students who have applied for and been awarded PLANET Academic Excellence Foundation scholarships, are presented with those scholarship funds.

PLANET’s Student Career Days draws the largest national gathering of landscape, lawn care, and interior plantscaping employment recruiters. An on-site Career Fair offers students the opportunity to interview with green-industry companies for full-time positions and internships. It is the best resource for qualified employees in the green industry, and many students receive job offers on the spot.

National tree care company, The Davey Tree Expert Co., sponsors the arboriculture (tree climbing) event and participates in the Career Fair. “We wouldn’t miss Student Career Days,” said Gordon Ober, vice president of recruiting and development at Davey Tree. “It gives us exposure to 800-some students who are the best in their programs.”

Last year, 67 schools and 961 students competed at SCD. The top placing schools included North Metro Technical College, Brigham Young University, Cal Poly Pomona, Penn State, North Carolina State, Mississippi State, and Michigan State.

For additional information on PLANET Student Career Days, visit the StudentCareerDays.org Web site. The event’s major sponsors are at the Platinum level, STIHL Inc.; Gold level, Ariens/Gravely; Silver level, Caterpillar, JOHN DEERE, and Ryan Turf Renovation Equipment; and Bronze level, BRICKMAN, Husqvarna, Pavestone Company, and The Toro Company.

PLANET is the association of members who create and maintain the QUALITY OF LIFE in communities across America. With more than 4,000 member companies and affiliates, these firms and their employees represent more than 100,000 green industry professionals. For more information on PLANET visit LandcareNetwork.org or call the PLANET office at (800) 395-2522.