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2009 Excellence in Landscaping and Hardscaping Awards Banquet05-08-09 | News

2009 Excellence in Landscaping and Hardscaping Awards Banquet

WLCA Southeast Chapter President Ken DePratt, KD Poolscapes; State Board Representative for the WLCA Metropolitan Milwaukee Chapter Heather Schuster, Terra-Firma Landscape; and WLCA Executive Director Barb Scheibe, Scheibe & Scheibe Landscape Contractors, at the 2009 Excellence in Landscaping and Hardscaping Awards Banquet held in Milwaukee.”
Photo Credit: Wisconsin Concrete Masonry Association (WCMA)

WLCA partnered with the Wisconsin Concrete Masonry Association (WCMA) for the 2009 Excellence in Landscaping and Hardscaping Awards Banquet. Two hundred and nine guests enjoyed the March 14th event. Held at the new Harley Davidson Museum’s Rumble Room in downtown Milwaukee, some attendees even came dressed in Harley gear. Prior to the awards ceremony, guests had the opportunity to tour the Museum.

Dave Guthery (Lied’s Nursery), chair of the WLCA awards committee, presented the 29 awards and one Judge’s Choice Award. Dave noted that there had been a record 42 entries for this year’s awards program. He congratulated the entrants for their special efforts and for making the awards program successful.

Kurt Barth, president of WLCA state, announced the Student of the Year awards winners Brian Karth, Scott Kazik, Jeremy Klemp, and Stefanie Dodge. Brian Karth from MATC, will be graduating this month from MATC’s Landscape Horticulture program. His goals include being able to give back what he has learned in the horticulture program at MATC and to initiate summer learning camps to underprivileged children in Sheboygan; to create an interest in learning about why horticulture is so important in our daily lives through hands-on workshops, visuals and reading material.

Scott Kazik from Northeast Wisconsin Technical College will be graduating this month also. His goal is to be an active participant in the maintenance of turf, herbaceous plants and woody ornamentals. He would also like to promote pest and disease resistance plant material as well as the aesthetics of landscaping. After over thirty-five years of a successful career, Scott stepped out of his job so that someone else would keep their position. Entering into the Landscape Horticulture Program gave him the opportunity to become an active participant in improving plant care and beautification of private as well as public landscapes.

Jeremy Klemp from Fox Valley Technical College will graduate in 2010 from the college’s Horticulture Technician Program. His goal is to create and maintain outdoor spaces for people to enjoy. His instructors note that he is an outstanding student and has proven to be a very knowledgeable in landscape construction design.

Stefanie Dodge from Gateway Technical College was unable to attend the awards presentation. She will receive her award at an upcoming chapter meeting of the WLCA Southeast Chapter. .

A silent auction to benefit Project Evergreen was held. Over $1,500 was raised for this exciting initiative to increase the awareness of the benefits of green space.

The WLCA Milwaukee and Southeast chapters coordinated the event. It is not too early to start thinking about which projects YOU will be entering for the 2010 awards program.