Stihl sponsors events at 35th annual PLANET Student Career Days
College students across the country competed in the Stihl-sponsored Small Engine Repair event led by Eddie Anderson of Stihl Inc. at the 35th annual PLANET Student Career Days.More than 870 students from 60 colleges converged upon Joliet Junior College in Joliet, Ill., for the 35th annual Professional Landcare Network (PLANET) Student Career Days, which took place March 16-20. PLANET Student Career Days is an annual competition, networking and career development event for students enrolled in green industry programs at two- and four-year colleges and universities from across the country.
Once again, Stihl Inc. supported the event as the platinum sponsor and organizer of two competitions, including Small Engine Repair. This year’s top honors, along with a $5,000 check from Stihl, went to Brigham Young University-Provo. “We at Stihl are excited to be a part of such an important event as PLANET Student Career Days,” said Roger Phelps, promotional communications manager for Stihl Inc. “These students are the future of the green industry, and their passion and determination continues to inspire us year after year.”
Eddie Anderson, technical training supervisor from Stihl Inc., led the Small Engine Repair event. More than 40 schools were involved in the engine repair event, where a written placement exam determined the top 10 contestants who then went on to a timed practical application event in real-world conditions. In the months leading up to the event, participants trained with materials provided by Stihl Inc. and also with regional Stihl technicians or local Stihl dealers. Trenton Spratling of Brigham Young University-Provo won the event with an overall score of 98.8.
Stihl also was a co-sponsor in several other competitions, including:
Annual & Perennial Identification
Business Management
Landscape Maintenance Operation
Landscape Plant Installation
Paver/Hardscape Installation
Plant Problem Diagnosis
Woody Plant Identification
As a way to further encourage students involved in the study of landscaping and horticulture, Stihl Inc., which also sponsors the National FFA nursery and landscaping competition, provided funds for the top two national FFA teams (Southern Alamance FFA from North Carolina and Washington County FFA from Kansas) to travel to PLANET Student Career Days and compete in four college level events. The experience introduces the high-school students to college programs from around the country, and they meet prospective employers at the Student Career Days Career Fair.
For more information on the events and a full list of PLANET Student Career Days winners, visit www.studentcareerdays.org/about/results.cfm.
