NCLC set for milestone competition at Michigan State this March

The National Association of Landscape Professionals is hosting its National Collegiate Landscape Competition from March 18-21 at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan.

Students have competed in NCLC since 1977, so this year's event marks a 50-year celebration that will bring together 800 of the nation’s top horticulture and landscape students from approximately 60 colleges and universities to demonstrate their skills, connect with industry leaders, and launch their professional futures.

“The National Collegiate Landscape Competition has been a cornerstone of our industry for 50 years, helping to shape the careers of generations of landscape professionals,” says Britt Wood, CEO of NALP. “Reaching this milestone at Michigan State University — a campus known for innovation and excellence in horticulture — is the perfect way to celebrate our history while helping develop the next generation of industry leaders.”

The four-day event features more than two dozen hands-on competitive events, including landscape design, plant identification, equipment operation, arboriculture and more. In addition to the competitions, students participate in expert-led educational workshops and attend the nation’s largest landscape industry Career Fair, where companies recruit top talent for internships and full-time positions.

New to this year’s program is the Career Development Networking Breakfast held before the Career Fair, designed to foster deeper professional connections between students and landscape company representatives in a focused environment.