JJC Triumphs at National Collegiate Landscape Competition

Joliet Junior College had a successful trip to the 2024 National Collegiate Landscape Competition, winning the landscape plant installation event and finishing in the top-10 on two other events in Provo, Utah.

JJC’s national champion landscape plant installation team included Anthony Syrigas, Daniel Kucharzak and Edgar Portillo. The 45 teams competing in the event had an hour and 50 minutes to grade the soil, measure and plant in their workspace according to the plan.  

“Landscape plant installation is the concluding competition, out of 30 unique competitions, which span two days,” said Nick Pershey, JJC horticulture associate professor. “650 students from 50 colleges and universities saw our JJC students produce the finest complete landscape planting at this year’s competition, replete with trees, shrubs, groundcover, turf and mulch.”

Additionally, Syrigas and Kucharzak teamed up for an eighth place finish out of 36 teams in the hardscape installation event. Portillo also competed in the compact excavator event, finishing in ninth out of 32 participants.

JJC horticulture students competed in 10 different events at the national competition, allowing them to practice the skills they learn in class.

“Throughout the competition, judges in the plant installation event, and others, pay close attention to safety, tool selection and technique, neatness and overall craftsmanship,” Pershey said. “These are all skills taught in our JJC courses, such as Introduction to Horticulture, Landscape Construction and Landscape Design. Hands-on labs in these courses offer opportunities to practice the relevant techniques.”

Also competing for JJC in Provo was horticulture student Kate Ahrens. Associate agriculture/horticulture professor David Bartz accompanied the students with Pershey.