BALTIMORE
- Students from around the country competed in the Tree Care Industry Association Foundation (TCIAF) Student Career Days Skills Competition at the TCI EXPO held on Nov. 5-7, 2009, at the BaltimoreConvention Center. The expo promoted a first-class conference education combined with networking opportunities with colleagues, vendors, manufacturers and the industry’s top thought-leaders in business, safety and best practices in arboriculture.
The Student Career Day Skills Competition is a career development event for arboriculture, urban forestry and horticulture students. The skills competition was held on Friday, Nov. 6 at FederalHillPark and featured the work climb, belayed scramble, and throwline competition events. The skills competition was designed to simulate on-the-job experiences for an arborist.
“Students learn the great difference between course work and jobs in the field when they compete in the skills competition,” said Tchukki Anderson, TCIA staff arborist and an International Society of Arboriculture certified arborist. "STIHL and our other sponsors provide the tools to teach real-life lessons to these students who will go on to work in the field throughout the United States, keeping grounds safe and beautiful."
Anita Gambill of STIHL Inc. agrees that “as sponsors, we are excited to provide this valuable career opportunity to students each year.” The winners were announced at the Student Skills Awards Ceremony on Nov. 7, and included:
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Overall First place winner, Merrill Larsen, BrighamYoungUniversity
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Second place, John Farkas, University of Wisconsin Steven’s Point
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Third place, Brian Roberts, VirginiaTech
The other winners included:
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Knowledge Exam : Nick Esposito, WesternIllinoisUniversity
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Safety Check: Casey Selner, MiddleStateTechnicalCollege
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Throwline: Elliot Beale, University of Massachusetts
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Scramble: Kyle McCabe, University of Massachusetts
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Work Climb: Caleb Smith, WesternIllinoisUniversity
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TCI CSI: Jessica Briscoe, BrighamYoungUniversity
The sponsors of the 2009 event included STIHL Inc., Bartlett Tree Experts, The Davey Tree Expert Co., SavAtree, The Care of Trees, Wright Tree Service, International Society of Aboriculture, Vermeer Corporation, Bandit Industries, Inc., and Cummins Bridgeway.
About TCIAF and TCIA
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Tree Care Industry Association Foundation (TCIAF) works to advance education and professional development in the green industry, improve safety and reduce accident rates in the tree care industry, and to disseminate information key to practitioners and consumers about proper tree care.
The Tree Care Industry Association accredits tree care companies, develops safety and education programs, establishes standards of tree care practice, and provides management information for arboriculture firms around the world. It provides continuing education, training, conferences and publications to promote the safe and appropriate practice of tree care.
About STIHL Inc.
STIHL Inc. manufactures the world’s largest selling brand of chain saws and produces a full line of powerful, lightweight, and versatile handheld outdoor power equipment for homeowners and professional users. STIHL products are sold through servicing power equipment retailers from coast to coast— not mass merchants. For more information or for the name of the closest STIHL retailer call toll free 1-800-GO STIHL (1-800-467-8445) or visit the STIHL Web site at www.stihlusa.com.
STIHL is pleased to also support the work of the Professional Landcare Network (PLANET), the Tree Research and Education Endowment Fund (TREE Fund) and the National Association of State Park Directors (NASPD).
