20-Apr-09 10:00 PM CST

PLANET Student Career Days Sizzles

Sixty-one college teams and 798 students participate in annual PLANET event.

Many of the country’s best and brightest green industry students came to Pomona, Calif., to compete in the Professional Landcare Network’s (PLANET’s) 33rd Annual Student Career Days held at Cal Poly Pomona.

Sixty-one college teams, including a total of 798 students, participated in 26 individual and team competitions including tree climbing, paver installation, wood construction, plant identification, sales presentation, exterior/interior design, irrigation troubleshooting, skid steer, equipment operation and the newest event to showcase this year – compact excavator operation, just to name a few.

The competition included both individual and team awards. The individual winners - called “superstars” - were Seth Reed of Brigham Young University, Rexburg, Idaho, in first place; Ben Roney of Alamance Community College, Graham, N.C., in second place; and Dawn Strickland of University of Georgia, Athens, Ga., in third place.

Not only did Brigham Young University take the lead individual award, they were also awarded first place in overall competitive events. Colorado State University came in second, followed by North Metro Technical College in third.

Cal Poly Pomona previously hosted the event in 1992.

Aside from bragging rights, students also received scholarships and award money. This year PLANET gave almost $70,000 in scholarships through the association's Academic Excellence Foundation. In addition, the on-site career fair offered students the opportunity to interview with green industry companies for full-time positions and internships.

“This year's SCD Event was another tremendous success,” said Jennifer Buck, national recruiting director and student career days committee chair. “Cal Poly Pomona and their team were great - organized, friendly, always ready and willing to help out. It was a great weekend full of education, training, networking, career fair and competitive events.”

The event’s platinum sponsor was STIHL and the gold sponsor was Ariens/Gravely. Other major sponsors included Caterpillar, John Deere, Ryan Turf Renovation Equipment, Brickman, Husqvarna, Pavestone and Toro.

For a complete list of winners Student Career Days.

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