Illinois Central College

In March, eight Illinois Central College students competed in events as part of the National Post-secondary Agricultural Student (PAS) Organization in Louisville, Ky. The conference included more than 600 students in career planning and preparation events from 62 chapters in 18 states.The students had to receive first place in their event at the Illinois state event to qualify for nationals. Student teams had to win first or second place in the state event to qualify. Teams placed 1st overal in the Soils Specialist category and 9th in the Crop Specialist category. Three students also placed 1st in their respective categories -- John Hendricks in the Soils Specialist category, Nikki Chambliss in the Agriculture Equipment Service interview, and Devin McGinnis in the Livestock Production interview category.

The National Collegiate Landscape Competition is an annual three-day competition and networking event for students enrolled in interior and exterior horticulture programs at two- and four-year colleges and universities from across the country. Each year, a different host location is selected, which gives the participants a chance to see different parts of the country and also increases the level of difficulty for some of the outdoor competitions. This year, ICC students traveled to Provo, Utah, March 15-18 to participate in the event. More than 750 landscape industry students demonstrate their skills in real-world, competitive events coupled with an outstanding Career Fair. The National Collegiate Landscape Competition provides landscape industry companies with unparalleled opportunities to meet and recruit next-generation landscape industry superstars. ICC students placed 23rd out of 60 teams competing and had students finish as high as 33rd out of the 672 individual students. ICC was the second highest ranking school in the state, finishing just behind College of DuPage, which placed 22nd.

ICC Career and Technical students participated in the Annual Fall Post-Secondary Agricultural Student (PAS) conference and contest at the Bloomington IAA building on Friday, Oct. 28. Students completed in interview contests and in industry related practicums. Students from the Horticulture, Agriculture, and Diesel Powered Equipment Program took home many individual and team awards.

ICC Horticulture Program students currently are participating in the "Come Alive Outside Design Challenge," which provides an opportunity for teams of post-secondary and secondary students to work together with landscape professionals to design and build engaging outdoor learning environments at schools and childcare facilities. ICC students will partner with Come Alive Outside, The Kitchen Community, and Christy Webber Landscapes to create an outdoor learning environment for Hanson Park Elementary School in Chicago, Ill. Teams have until Dec. 2 to finalize proposals, which will be judged by a professional panel and voted on by the community of teachers and parents at Hanson Park. All submissions will be featured at the Chicago Flower and Garden Show in March 2017. The winning design will be announced in December, with the winning design scheduled to be built on the school grounds in the spring of 2017.

ICC students brought home a gold trophy from the Blick Madness Painting Competition, hosted by Dick Blick art store, on September 22, 2016. The students competed as a group and painted a fall scene, complete with campfire and pumpkins. The students had just an hour and a half to complete the painting. The group competed against other two- and four-year institutions in Illinois, including: Western Illinois University, Eastern Illinois University, Monmouth College, Eureka College, Bradley University, and Carl Sandburg. ICC students have won the gold trophy in three out of the last five competitions.