Ornamental Horticulture Program Represented at Industry Event

Penn College faculty and staff representing the Ornamental Horticulture program attended the 37th annual Penn Atlantic Nursery Trade Show at the newly opened Greater Philadelphia Expo Center from July 28-30. Horticulture instructor Carl J. Bower and Melissa M. Stocum, coordinator of matriculation and retention for the School of Natural Resources Management, attended the entire event; Justin Shelinski, horticulture lab assistant, joined them for a time and helped staff the college's booth. The event hosted more than 500 exhibitors and industry experts, and was attended by a large number of nursery and landscaping professionals. "While several new contacts were made, it also was rewarding to encounter many alumni and companies that have a long history of hiring Penn College ornamental horticulture interns and graduates," said Stocum, who also provided the above photo. PANTS is the largest horticulture industry event to be held in Pennsylvania all year and an excellent opportunity to promote the college's ornamental horticulture, landscape technology and forest technology majors. "Each of these majors offers avenues into the 'green' industry. which is more vital today than ever before because of the current emphasis on environmental impact and sustaining natural resources," Stocum said.