Horticulture, Greenhouse & Landscape Technician students plant seeds of innovation at Industry Partners Showcase

Story submitted by Professor Helen Tran on behalf of the School of Academic and Liberal Studies.

Innovation, environmental sustainability and solving complex challenges were the main themes students from NC’s School of Environment and Horticulture presented to local industry partners at a recent showcase held at the Daniel J. Patterson Campus.

Hosted at Benchmark Restaurant, the showcase was organized by Professor Tania Fera-VanGent, with assistance from Associate Dean, Mitra Gorjipour, Administrative Assistant, Virginia McNulty and Professor Helen Tran.

A woman with dark, short hair in a striped dress standing across a table from students engaged in conversation

Attendees ask questions about case studies and hear creative solutions to industry challenges.

Professor Fera-VanGent, who has taught at NC for 15 years, coordinated student participation and facilitated collaboration with industry partners such as Alpine Nurseries, Tregunno Fruit Farms, and the Niagara College Teaching Greenhouse.

“The goal was to create an authentic assignment that would inspire student engagement,” said Professor Fera-VanGent. “By connecting them with industry leaders to solve real-life problems, students in many program areas benefitted by gaining real-life experience specific to their field.”

Students from Comm 1250: Advanced Communications for Horticulture were tasked with creating a formal proposal presenting innovative solutions to real-life case studies about three industry-specific challenges: innovating the NC Greenhouse, eradicating the invasive Spotted Lantern Fly, and developing and restoring unused agricultural land for a local business.

From left to right: A man in a brown coat and hat, a woman with short dark hair and a white shirt and a woman with a green coat and blonde hair. Man on left and woman on right both holding large blue bags.

Professor Tania Fera-VanGent thanks industry partners.

In the weeks leading up to the showcase, students developed their written, visual and oral communication skills by creating a formal proposal with infographics and handouts, as well as interviewing industry partners to gather primary research data. In addition to engaging with the community, students were able to nurture valuable networking connections with local businesses through experiential learning.

Professor Fera-VanGent’s vision of an event for students to showcase their innovative solutions was fully realized as students, staff, and industry partners all gathered at Benchmark to share their ideas and discuss common trends in the industry. Ultimately, seven groups were chosen to present at the showcase, totaling 21 students from the Greenhouse and Horticulture Program.

A woman with brown hair and blue shirt and a man with brown in a checkered button up standing across a table from a woman with brown hair in a black shirt and man with brown hair in a green shirt, all looking at a laptop across in the centre of table.

NC Library staff observe as students present on industry practices.

Many attended the conference in support, including Dean of Academic & Liberal Studies, David Atherton, Associate Dean of Environment and Horticulture, Evan DiValentino, Director of Teaching & Learning Innovation, Natasha Patrito Hannon, as well as staff from the Niagara College Library and faculty members from the Environment & Horticulture Department and Communications Department.

“The amazing work done by the students was truly heartwarming,” said Professor Fera-VanGent. “They were genuinely proud of their own work and excited to discuss their well-researched results within the industry.”

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