26-Feb-09 7:00 AM CST

What’s new at Student Career Days?

The Student Career Days (SCD) Subcommittee is planning two new additions to this year’s SCD — a new trial competitive event and the launch of the Career Development Series. Hosted by Cal Poly Pomona in Pomona, California, March 26–29, 2009, SCD will draw students enrolled in horticultural programs at two-year and four-year colleges and universities from across the country.

PLANET plans to debut a trial competitive event, compact excavator operation, at this year’s event. Students will not only be required to demonstrate their ability to handle a compact excavator but will also be given a written test covering safety, maintenance, operation, and key machine characteristic. To prepare for this competitive event, students can arrange to visit their local JOHN DEERE dealer by sending an e-mail to Natalie Whitehead. The other competitive events will challenge students in 25 green industry arenas, such as business management, exterior landscape design, and irrigation design and troubleshooting, paver installation, truck & trailer operation, and woody plant identification.

PLANET also is introducing the new PLANET Career Development Series (PLANET CDS), formally known as SCD Tech. Students and faculty will have the opportunity to attend a presentation on Friday evening by industry professionals on a topic that they might not otherwise be offered at their schools and universities. Students that participate in a minimum of three of the PLANET CDS offerings (and receives validation of their attendance) will receive a PLANET CDS certificate. The top three schools in participation (based on how many students received certificates vs. how many students attended SCD) also receive a team award.

In addition to the 26 competitive events; industry and student workshops; faculty forum; tour of the Huntington Botanic Gardens, Library, and Art Collection; and social networking events, SCD also features a Career Fair, where students and companies get to learn about each other. Companies actually conduct on-site interviews for internships and job openings at their booths and students have an opportunity to be hired, on the spot.

Thanks to Platinum Sponsor STHIL Inc., Gold Sponsor Ariens/Gravely, Silver Sponsors Caterpillar, JOHN DEERE, and Ryan Turf Renovation Equipment, and Bronze Sponsors BRICKMAN, Husqvarna, Pavestone Company, and The Toro Company for their support.

For more details on SCD, visit StudentCareerDays.org.

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