The Edge June/July/August 2026

THE NALP EXPERIENCE

50 Years Strong: How NCLC Develops a Powerful Pipeline of Talent for the Industry

By Jill Odom

THE 50TH NATIONAL COLLEGIATE LANDSCAPE COMPETITION, PRESENTED by NALP and powered by STIHL, has evolved over the years, but what has stayed consistent are the passionate students and an industry that is eager to pay it forward.

University, University of Michigan and Lander University – participated in NCLC this year, and five other schools returned, including Tuskegee University, The Ohio State University, Oklahoma State Univer sity, Chattahoochee Technical and North Georgia Technical College. First-time attendee Anthony Stanzi, a second-year plant science and landscape technology major with a focus in arboricul ture at Cuyahoga Community College, says he knew he wanted to come to NCLC ever since seeing his classmates attend the pre vious year and come back more confident and better friends than they were before they left. “I’ve never quite felt like this about anything in my life,” Stanzi says. “When I first signed up for this competition, I figured it would just be going out, studying with friends on the weekends and competing, doing our best. But since Monday, the endorphins have been running high. It’s excitement. It is career building, it is friendships.”

“Getting to celebrate anything for 50 years is rare, but reaching that milestone with NCLC speaks volumes about the strength and importance of our industry,” says Darby Gilbert, director of workforce development for NALP. “This event is more than a competition – it’s a pathway for the next generation of landscape professionals. It gives students the chance to apply what they learn in the classroom, connect with companies eager to invest in their future, and truly see how vast and opportuni ty-filled the world of landscaping and lawn care can be.” This year’s event was hosted at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan, from March 18-21, 2026, and was kicked off with the beloved roll call during the open ing ceremony on Wednesday, March 18. The final four schools for the best cheer included Sandhills Community College, North Dakota State University, Milwau kee Area Technical College and Parkland College. Despite only having three student representatives, Parkland College ended up winning this year. Three new schools – Southern Illinois

HOPE FOR THE FUTURE Both students and industry professionals were inspired by one another as they connected during the new Career Development Networking breakfast and the career fair held on March 19. “I think this is a great event for students to have one-on-ones with industry,”says Nate Hawks, a senior ag business major at Michigan State University. “A lot of people talk about not having that connection. This is a great way to have that connection and build off of it.” Will Reynolds, a sophomore environ mental horticulture major with a concen tration in landscape design and contract ing at Colorado State University, says his favorite part of NCLC is getting to connect with industry professionals and how the event is tailored to the students. “The fact that NALP is able to tailor it and give the students the opportunity to speak to so many companies is truly amazing,” Reynolds says. During the career fair, students could see the breadth of career opportunities available, and companies got to know potential interns and future employees. “It’s a really good opportunity to obvi ously explore places to work,”says Landon Stuhlsatz, a junior plant science major at the University of Missouri. “But even if you’re not looking for a place to work, just getting to know the industry. There are tons of places around here. They all do the same thing, but they’re all different. So

12 The Edge // June/July/August 2026