UMO students volunteer at Green & Growin’ event

MOUNT OLIVE — Students from the University of Mount Olive 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 hotel and Greensboro Coliseum.

According to UMO School of Agriculture and Biological Sciences Assistant Dean 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,” Martinez said.

“I was very interested in the marketplace’s variety of vendors and exhibitors,” Clark said. “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,” Gonzalez said.

— From University of Mount Olive Public Relations