For the 11th time in 17 years, Pennsylvania College of Technology has won the Mid-Atlantic Horticulture/Landscape Field Day competition, held this year at Penn College's Earth Science Center near Allenwood.
In the overall competition, Penn College defeated nine other schools: Delaware Valley College (Doylestown), Longwood Gardens (Kennett Square), Niagara Parks Commission School of Horticulture (Ontario, Canada), Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute (Wooster, Ohio), Owens Community College (Toledo, Ohio), Suffolk County Community College (Riverhead, N.Y.), State University of New York Farmingdale, Temple University-Ambler Campus and the University of Connecticut (Storrs, Conn.).
Niagara Parks Commission School of Agriculture placed second, and SUNY Farmingdale placed third in the team competition.
Students in the Landscape/Nursery Technology, Floral Design/Interior Plantscape and Forest Technology majors in Penn College's School of Natural Resources Management won four individual and two team first-place honors in the competition.
The students winning individual first-place honors (and their competition categories) are: Michael A. Raywood, Coatesville, Floral Design; Karla M. Kasunic, Mifflinburg, Flower and Foliage Identification; Ryan R. Marhefka, Bradford, Outdoor Plant Identification; and Kimberlee J. Carey, Williamsport, Weed and Turf Identification.
Travis J. Lauger, Youngsville, and Travis M. Breininger, Hamburg, won the Patio Construction team event. Henry B. Ronneberg, Hepburn Heights, Cogan Station; Jeremy M. Shaffer, Dushore; and Travis E. Orso, Centre Hall, won the team Surveying event.
Winning second-place honors in individual events were: Jerrett M. Feehrer, Beavertown, Balling and Burlapping; and Carey, Insect and Disease Identification.
Taking second place in the Horticulture Team Event were Jason P. Narber, Boalsburg, James D. Lewis, Montgomery; and Thomas E. Keefer, Catawissa.
Taking third place in individual events were: Ronneberg, Botany; Barbara E. Hopple, Cogan Station, Floral Design; Tina D. Snyder, Laporte, Herbaceous Plant Identification; Raywood, Interior Plant Identification; Joshua M. Weil, Fleetwood, Pruning; Keefer, Sales Presentation; and Timothy A. Hornberger, Richfield, Wood Construction.
Placing fourth in an individual event was Justin H. Bentz, Strausstown, Arboricultural Techniques. Placing fifth in individual events were: Jeffrey B. Arrowsmith, Gilbertsville, Balling and Burlapping; and Michelle C. Richardson, Milton, Interior Plant Identification.
Placing sixth in individual events were: Heather A. Hutchings, Williamsport, Insect and Disease Identification; Kyle G. Salva, Youngsville, Pruning; and Jonathan D. Bower, Weed and Turf Identification. Placing seventh in an individual event was Lewis, Outdoor Plant identification.
Placing ninth in an individual event was Erin L. Domer, Herbaceous Plant Identification. Placing 10th in individual events were Brian G. Hartley, Monroeville, Landscape Design Problem; and Damon J. Allmaras, Warriors Mark, People Management Skills. Placing 11th in an individual event was Lauger, Landscape Construction Estimation.