K-State landscape contracting team sets school record with fourth-place team score at 'landscape olympics'

Media Relations and Marketing
9 Anderson Hall
Manhattan, KS 66506-0117
Phone: 785-532-6415
Fax: 785-532-6418

Information provided by K-State Media Relations, K-State's news service, may be reproduced without permission. The marks and names of Kansas State University are protected trademarks and may not be used in any commercial or private endeavor without the approval of the university.

Source: Greg Davis, 785-532-1417, gdavis@k-state.edu
Note to editor: Sherrailynn Cockes is a Fort Scott High School graduate; Ryan Rush is a Goddard High School graduate; Matthew Sorenson is a Riverton High School graduate; Alex McClain is a Sabetha High School graduate; and Curtis Payne is a Wichita High School East graduate.
News release prepared by: Erinn Barcomb-Peterson, 785-532-6415, ebarcomb@k-state.edu

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

K-STATE LANDSCAPE CONTRACTING TEAM SETS SCHOOL RECORD WITH FOURTH-PLACE TEAM SCORE AT 'LANDSCAPE OLYMPICS'

MANHATTAN -- For the third consecutive year, students from Kansas State University's Landscape Contracting Team earned a top 10 designation, finishing the competition with their highest placement yet.

The Professional Landcare Network recognized the K-State team as a top 10 program at the 31st annual Student Career Days at Michigan State University. From March 28-April 1, the 27 K-State students from the department of horticulture, forestry and recreation services showcased their knowledge, talent and effort in 24 competitive events. They finished fourth out of 54 competing colleges and universities, K-State's highest finish ever in the competition. Many of K-State's team members claimed top 10 finishes in individual events. This marked K-State's seventh year in the national event known as the "landscape olympics."

The industry-sponsored event, which included a career fair, attracted 850 students and more than 400 landscape industry professionals. Many students from the K-State team received offers for internships and jobs as a result of their interviews and performance during events. Team advisers Greg Davis, associate professor of horticulture, forestry and recreation resources, and Cathie Lavis, assistant professor of horticulture, forestry and recreation resources, accompanied the team. The team will compete at next year's Student Career Days in Atlanta.

Participating horticulture, forestry and recreation resources students and honors, if received, included:

Avery Land, sophomore, Burlingame, fifth place in personnel management and third place in leadership skills; Ashley Cox, senior, Chanute; Andrew Mitchell, senior, Concordia; Dustin Farmer, senior, Garden City.

From Greater Kansas City: William Neuburger, senior, Lenexa, sixth place in arboriculture techniques and eighth place in wood construction; Nilo Fanska, sophomore, and Michael Salazar, junior, both of Mission; Heather Williams, senior, Olathe; and Nathan Jones, senior, Overland Park, ninth place in landscape sales presentations and fifth place in paver installation.

Kristin Pfannenstiel, senior, Hays; Kyle Bartel, senior, Hillsboro, fifth place in irrigation assembly; Jenna Knackstedt, senior, Inman, 10th place in safety management and seventh place in maintenance equipment operation; Matt Long, junior, Leoti, fifth place in paver installation.

From Manhattan: Sherrailynn Cockes, senior; Alex McClain, senior, third place in irrigation troubleshooting, fourth place in irrigation design and fifth place in irrigation assembly; Curtis Payne, senior; Ryan Rush, sixth place in arboriculture techniques; and Matthew Sorenson, senior.

Justin Esslinger, senior, Marysville, ninth place in skid steer; Darren Norsworthy, senior, Meade, 10th place in turf and turf pest identification; Shelly Blattner, senior, Rozel, 10th place in exterior landscape design; Nathan Polson, senior, Vermillion, eighth place in wood construction; William Norris, junior, Wellington; Lauren Williams, junior, Wichita; and Lindsay Archer, senior, Winfield, ninth place in leadership skills and fifth place in personnel management.

From Missouri: Erin Grace, senior, Columbia, sixth place in annual and perennial identification; and Andrew Freeman, senior, Parkville, seventh place in maintenance equipment operation.