Pictured from left are UMO ag students Courtney Bivins, Hannah Loftin, Natalie McBride, Payton Kennedy, Reagan Carver, a Pitt Community College student, Jasmine Gonzalez and Tatiana Martinez.
Students from the UMO School of Agriculture & Biological Sciences recently volunteered at the annual North Carolina Nursery and Landscape Association Green & Growin’ event. The event was held at the Sheraton Four Seasons Hhotel and Greensboro Coliseum.
According to Assistant Dean for the UMO School of Agriculture and Biological Sciences Jason Davis, the conference provided an opportunity for NCNLA members to learn new skills through educational programming, as well as gain licensing credits. “Participants attended professional meetings and visited the marketplace featuring various vendors and industry products,” he said.
UMO student volunteers assisted with participant and vendor check-in, session introductions, and other tasks. While at the conference, students also participated in various horticultural-related sessions. The student-volunteers from UMO were: Reagan Carver from Cleveland County; Payton Kennedy from Duplin County; Tatiana Martinez from Sampson County; Jasmine Gonzalez from Davidson County; Hannah Loftin from Iredell County; Natalie McBride from Rowan County; Courtney Bivins from Randolph County; Logan Clark from Lenoir County; Sarah Faith McAllister from Catawba County; and Rachel Smith from Wake County.
“I made several connections in the industry, learned new practices, practiced public speaking, and took a few plants home,” said Tatiana Martinez.
“I was very interested in the marketplace’s variety of vendors and exhibitors,” stated Logan Clark. “The exposure has encouraged me to pursue a career in horticulture.”
“I met lots of people and made many connections that can help me in the future,” concluded Jasmine Gonzalez.
The University of Mount Olive is a private institution rooted in the liberal arts tradition with defining Christian values. The Convention of Original Free Will Baptists sponsors the University. For more information, visit www.umo.edu.
