Scenes from the competition: Northlands students demonstrate their skills, join competitors for a group photo and collect their winnings.

It was a clean sweep for Northlands Job Corps Center’s Urban Forestry students at the Tree Care Industry Association Foundation’s 2011 Student Career Days competition in Hartford, Connecticut. Up against vocational schools from around the country, Northlands took 1st, 2nd and 3rd places.

“We’ve come home with the 1st place award before,” Northlands Urban Forestry Instructor Jeremy Riemersma said, “but this is the first time sweeping the top three spots.”

Student Tearron Dinkins won overall, claiming the top spot in four out of five events. He won a $650 STIHL chainsaw and $200 in additional awards. Eric Peterson took 2nd place, winning $150 in awards while Ian Lord won 3rd place. Ian also took 1st place in the written competition, winning a total of $150 in awards.

“It was much bigger than I thought,” Eric said of the event. “At first I was nervous, but then I focused on my skills and did better than I expected.”

Besides dominating the competition, the students got to meet employers and learn about the latest tree care skills and technology. The event even resulted in a job offer for Tearron Dinkins.

For the instructors, the competition was validation of their efforts. “It’s nice to know that we’re up on the industry standards,” Mr. Riemersma said. “The students worked hard, proved themselves and I’m proud of them.”