Horticulture students take top honors in 2022 National Collegiate Landscape Competition
Eleven students from the College of DuPage Horticulture program placed 18th overall out of 43 community colleges and universities from across the U.S. and Canada and sixth out of all the community colleges at the 2022 National Collegiate Landscape Competition, held earlier this month at North Carolina State University.
The annual three-day competition brings together the top landscape and horticulture students, top industry companies and dozens of the biggest industry manufacturers and suppliers from around the country.
College of DuPage NCLC awards include:
• Christian Schloegel, third overall, fifth place in Compact Track/Skid Loader Operation, and the Top Three Superstars of the Competition;
• Payton Flach and Christian Schloegel, second place, Truck and Trailer Operation;
• Matthew Fiala and Christian Schloegel, third place, Landscape Maintenance Operation;
• Luis Mazariegos and Jennifer Suszek, eighth place, Arboriculture Techniques;
• Aleksandra Bednarz, eighth place in Exterior Landscape Design, 15th place in Sales Presentation;
• Payton Flach, ninth place, Mini Trach Loader Operation;
• Derrick Graves, 11th place, Compact Excavator Operation;
• Francisco Garcia and Luis Mazariegos, 11th place, Irrigation Troubleshooting;
• Joseph Huttner, 13th place in Plant Problem Diagnosis, 14th place in Robotics & Technology in Landscape Design and Maintenance;
• Matthew Fiala, Mia Olsen and Christian Schloegel, 16th place, Landscape Plant Installation; Suszek, 19th place, Turf & Weed Identification.
For more information on COD's Horticulture program visit www.cod.edu/horticulture or contact Brian Clement at (630) 942-2526.
COD offers an Associate in Applied Science in Horticulture, Landscape Contracting and Management and Sustainable Urban Agriculture.
Nine specialized certificates are available which are designed to address the diverse nature of the horticulture industry and offer a sound foundation to students who wish to create their own small businesses.
Students can take courses at night, during the weekdays or in a hybrid or online format. Classes are offered on the Glen Ellyn campus.