Fifteen Chattahoochee Technical College horticulture students celebrated over the weekend after learning that the team had fared well in the 40th Annual National Collegiate Landscape Competition – a three-day event designed to jumpstart horticultural careers for college students.
Organized by the National Association of Landscape Professionals (formerly known as PLANET), the event was held March 16-19 at Mississippi State University. More than 600 students from approximately 65 universities and colleges competed in events directly related to the skills necessary for a career in the Green Industry, including tree climbing, hardscape installation, wood construction, sales presentation, skid steer operation, and plant identification. They also participated in a career fair that allows recruiters from approximately 75 companies to interview students for jobs.

Pictured, from left, are: Asa Weems, Heiny Martinez, Sylvia Ramey, William Kramer, Molly Ferguson, Scott Faulkner, Darious Hopkins, Aaron Driver, Josh Schrager, Dylan Cochran, Nathaniel Brigham, Corey Cantlon, Luke Brummeler, Denna Pace, Nathan Byrd and Instructor John Hatfield.

Led by instructor John Hatfield, Chattahoochee Technical College’s team scored a combined 2393.30 points at the competition to secure a 23rd-place finish. Along with the school’s overall achievement, CTC student and Hiram resident Scott Faulkner was announced as a top finisher at the event, placing 20th out of 683 individual competitors and scoring 346.50 points in the five events he competed in.
In addition, CTC student Aaron Driver, of Powder Springs, earned a sixth-place finish in the business management event; Nathan Byrd, of Powder Springs, finished third in compact excavator operation; Darious Hopkins, of Powder Springs, and Driver finished 10th in hardscape installation; and Denna Pace, of Woodstock, finished ninth in turf and weed identification.
Additional members of Chattahoochee Technical College’s team were: William Kramer, of Marietta; Nathaniel Brigham, of Marietta; Dylan Cochran, of Adairsville; Sylvia Ramey, of Marietta; Josh Schrager, of Marietta; Luke Brummeler, of Marietta; Heiny Martinez, of Atlanta; Asa Weems, of Marietta; Molly Ferguson, of Marietta; and Corey Cantlon, of Dallas.
About Chattahoochee Technical College:
A unit of the Technical College System of Georgia, Chattahoochee Technical College is the largest technical college in the state with more than 15,000 students enrolled in the past academic year. The college has eight campus locations serving the counties of Bartow, Cherokee, Cobb, Gilmer, Paulding, and Pickens. CTC provides a high quality, easily accessible college education at a fraction of the cost of other area colleges and universities. Chattahoochee Technical College awards more than 70 certificates, diplomas and associate degrees in 45 programs of study through traditional classroom courses as well as online training. The college also provides the community with learning opportunities, including customized workforce training, adult literacy and continuing education programs. For more information, visit www.ChattahoocheeTech.edu.