2011's competition saw the Michigan State Univeristy team set a new school record by claiming an impressive 2nd place finish overall. Team members posted an incredible collective 4,109 points.  Top individual scores included Mitch Zost (306 points), Brenda Landhuis (255), Sarah Lott (248), Jamey Martinez (247), Jarid Pohl (239), and Joe Shear (234).  The 2011 team also boasted more top 20 finishes than ever before: Team of Jason Karle and Jamey Martinez, Landscape Maintenance Operations (2nd) Sarah Lott, Business Management (3rd) Sara Marcucci, Sales Presentation (3rd) Eric Kopinski, Interior Landscape Design (3rd) Mitchell Zost, Plant Problem Diagnosis (3rd) Team of Christina Horrigan and Sarah Lott, Personnel Management (4th) Alan Dosenberry, Small Engine Repair (4th) Jeff Elshoff, Irrigation Troubleshooting (5th) Jeff Elshoff, Irrigation Design (6th) Team of Jarid Pohl and Joe Shear, Truck and Trailer Operation (6th) Jackie Grow, 3D CAD Landscape Design (7th) Brenda Landhuis, Annual and Perennial ID (7th) Team of Alan Dosenberry and Mitchell Zost, Arboriculture Techniques (8th) Lauren Tuski, Annual and Perennial ID (12th) Brenda Landhuis, Interior Plant ID (13th) Megan Schuiteman, Computer Aided Design (14th) Mitchell Zost, Leadership Skills (15th) Sarah Lott, Turf and Weed ID (16th) Mitchell Zost, Woody Plant ID (16th) Tim McAlister, Exterior Landscape Design (17th) Meghan Fisher, Plant Problem Diagnosis (18th) Jason Karle, Woody Plant ID (18th) Brenda Landhuis, Business Management (19th) Team of Jake Emling and Jamey Martinez, Hardscape Installation (20th)

Special congratulations go to Jackie Grow, Brenda Landhuis, and Tim McAlister for being awarded PLANET scholarships worth $1000 from the PLANET Education Foundation.

What is PLANET SCD?

Professional Landcare Network Student Career Days or PLANET SCD for short, is often referred to as a collegiate "Olympics" for the Landscape Industry.  Students compete in 28 green industry related events from aboriculture techniques, to exterior landscape design, to perennial and annual plant ID, to personnel management and everything in between.  This years competition was held in Joliet, IL from 3/17 to 3/20 and was larger than ever.  876 students representing 60 colleges took up the challenge of competing in individual and team events under the close scrutiny of over 300 industry professionals who also attended as either sponsors or as career fair participants. 

Our PLANET team has placed in the top ten the majority of the years we have competed. The career fair is HUGE and hosts some of the best companies in the green industry from all over the nation looking to hire us, along with giving away plenty of free stuff.

A Brief History

Thirty six years ago a group of Michigan State University Horticulture students were out touring gardens and nurseries in the south when they stopped by the campus of Mississippi State University.  What started out as a friendly picnic between two top Horticulture programs soon lead to a few disagreements on whose students really where the best in the industry.  From this encounter the first student competition held by ALCA (Associated Landscape Contractors of America) was born.  Held in 1977, 18 industry-leading companies sponsored this new event in which only 4 schools competed.  Since then, this student competition has grown exponentially evolving into a new professional organization under the name of PLANET and incorporating top Horitculture programs from all over the United States, and in 2010 even included a few from Canada and England.