Green Collar Career Day

A group effort between the JC Raulston Arboretum (JCRA) and NC State University’s Department of Horticultural Science and Agricultural Institute brought together area high school students, allowing them to explore different aspects of horticulture and the industry that it fuels.

JCRA hosted the event and offered tours of the arboretum and gardens. It invited multiple companies, such as Bland Landscaping, Currin Outdoor Living, Myatt Landscaping and Construction, SiteOne, Terra Green, Bartlett Tree Experts, Plantworks Nursery, Ruppert Landscapes, NC State University’s Plant Science Initiative, representatives from NC State Extension’s therapeutic horticulture program and the apple program.

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) Agricultural Institute were also present to inform prospective students about the academic programs that can lead to an associate’s degree in multiple majors and concentrations. 

The Department of Horticultural Science was there to represent their program which boasts four concentrations that can serve a passion in almost any area of plants and food and a minor for students who might pursue another major but have a zeal for horticulture. Horticultural science also offers a two-year associate’s degree with concentrations in Ornamentals and Landscape Technology or Small-Scale farming, which is part of the Agricultural Institute. 

Jodi Driedger, the director of undergraduate programs, truly enjoys hosting events and participating in opportunities to promote the Department of Horticultural Science. She is an enthusiastic and effective communicator between industry and students, consistently seizing opportunities to meet new people, whether they are students or representatives from companies.

Issac Lewis, horticulture’s undergraduate program specialist says of Driedger, “At events like this, she never slows down. Understanding the need to make real and lasting connections to not only serve students and companies but also the horticulture industry at large is something Driedger excels at.”

Students wanting to explore a degree in horticulture are encouraged to participate in the CALS Spend-a-Day at State Program. It allows high school students to get more information about CALS also about the university in general, and more importantly, students can spend time in the Department of Horticultural Science by talking to faculty, staff, and students and touring their greenhouses. 

The Green Collar Career Day event is expected to return next October, allowing teachers, parents, and prospective students to attend. They can check JC Raulston Arboretums’s events calendar for this and more opportunities.