Virginia Tech Landscaping Team brings home national awards
Four students in the School of Plant and Environmental Sciences were awarded scholarships at the annual event.
The Virginia Tech Landscape Team includes (from left): Forest Beegle, Matthew Keyser, Chase Anderson, Matthew Shackelford , Oliva Lucas-Loushe, Bryn Distler, Andon Greslick, Bethany Hillmann, Ava Lambert, Burke Thompson, Makena McLaughlin, Leilani Hyatt, Christine Iasso, Hannah Chambers, Isabella Gerena, Kevin Painchaud, Hannah Burton, and Josh Wilson. Photo by Scott Douglas for Virginia Tech.
The Virginia Tech Landscaping Team impressed on and off the field at the 2024 National Collegiate Landscape Competition in Utah, placing 10th against 49 other universities. Individuals and teams competed in events ranging from driving compact excavators and backhoes to utilizing robotics and technology in landscaping.
“It’s a great couple of days to connect with fellow students from across the country and with landscape professionals looking for students to hire,” said Hannah Burton, a student at the School of Plant and Environmental Sciences.
The National Association of Landscape Professionals Foundation awarded more than $100,000 in scholarships at the event with four Virginia Tech students being recipients; Burton, Hannah Chambers, Kevin Painchaud, and Makenna McLaughlin.
Several students from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences also placed in the top three in their individual categories:
- Burton, a senior in environmental horticulture from Stephens City, Virginia, secured first place in the Robotics and Technology in Landscape category.
- Christine Iasso, a senior in landscape design and turfgrass science from Port Jefferson, New York, earned third place in the Annual Perennial ID category.
- Painchaud, a senior in environmental horticulture and agribusiness from Bedford, Virginia, received a third-place finish in the Sales Presentation category.
- Forest Beegle, a senior in agricultural technology from Floyd, Virginia, took third place in the Tractor Loader Backhoe category.
- Matthew Keyser, a junior in agribusiness from Hot Springs, Virginia, placed third in the Compact Excavator category.
“Overall, it was a great experience and opportunity,” Keyser said. “A big thanks to Todd Walters of Valley Landscaping for allowing me to practice on their mini excavator before the event.”
Scott Douglas, professor and the director of the Hahn Horticulture Garden; Barbara Leshyn, advanced instructor; Tom Martin, assistant director and senior instructor in the Agricultural Technology Program; and John James, manager of the Urban Horticulture Center, provided guidance, coordinated travel logistics, and ensured students had the resources needed for success.
“Our students returned from the event energized and enthusiastic about their futures in the green industry,” Douglas said. “A top-10 performance brings more attention to the school and increases the recruiting interest that the industry has for Virginia Tech graduates.”
The 2025 National Collegiate Landscape Competition will be at Colorado State University from March 19-20.
Students (from left) Ava Lambert, Burke Thompson, and Andon Greslick during the Landscape Plant Installation event. Photo by Scott Douglas for Virginia Tech.
