STIHL steps up as platinum sponsor of Student Career Days
28 Apr, 2010 LM Direct!ATLANTA — STIHL Inc., with manufacturing facilities in Virginia Beach, VA, was the platinum sponsor of the 34th annual Professional Landcare Network (PLANET) Student Career Days held near here. This year’s event, which took place April 8-11 on the North Metro campus of Chattahoochee Technical College, boasted 883 college students from 68 colleges participating in PLANET Student Career Days competitions.
“The enthusiasm and dedication of these students was apparent throughout the event; from those getting hired on the spot at the Career Fair to those giving it their all until the last second of the various competitions,” said Roger Phelps, promotional communications manager for STIHL Inc. “We at STIHL are thrilled to take a lead role in supporting an event that recognizes the future of the Green Industry.”
Nationally recognized garden expert and STIHL personality P. Allen Smith delivered the keynote address during the opening ceremony and spoke about his life in the Green Industry. The television host and best-selling author told the students how with perseverance, hard work, and dedication, any of them could achieve his level of success. He also coached the Washington County High School FFA Team from Kansas as they competed against college teams in the Landscape Plant Installation event. STIHL, a sponsor of the National FFA nursery and landscaping competition, provided the funds for the Kansas team to travel to PLANET Student Career Days as a reward for the team’s national FFA championship win in 2009.
This year’s top honors along with a $5,000 check from STIHL went to the host school, Chattahoochee Technical College.
”We’re very proud to have been able to show our pride in our school as the host for the 34th annual PLANET Student Career Days,” said Rex Bishop of Chattahoochee Technical College. The school won the award for most overall points, as well as the STIHL Walt Peeples Award for the most spirit throughout the events. “Each year we do very well in the competitions, and the fact that we won on our home turf is even sweeter.”
In response to requests from academic faculty, STIHL brought back the Small Engine Repair competition to the event. The STIHL sponsored event, planned and managed by Eddie Anderson, a technical training supervisor from STIHL, involved a written placement exam to determine 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 were able to train with STIHL’s online training program, and received training visits by STIHL technicians in their area. Dean Levy of MiraCosta College in California, who trained with Jerry Swacker, technical service manager for Pacific STIHL, won the event with an overall score of 97.12.
"What I like about this event is seeing the enthusiasm and excitement these students have for getting into the industry," said David Wilhoit of the family-owned STIHL dealership D&K Power Equipment, whose technician served as a judge in the Small Engine Repair event.
STIHL also sponsored several events for students in arboriculture, horticulture, and landscape design, including:
o Annual & Perennial Identification
o Business Management
o Landscape Plant Installation
o Paver Installation
o Safety Management
o Woody Plant Identification
o Wood Construction
o Small Engine Repair
For more information on the events and a full list of PLANET Student Career Days winners, click here for the official results from PLANET.
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