pi alpha xi

Pi Alpha Xi Lotus Leaflet Spring/Summer 1998

Pi Alpha Xi

Lotus

Leaflet

Spring/Summer

1998

Pi Alpha Xi

The purpose of Pi Alpha Xi - TheHonor Society for Floriculture,Landscape Horticulture, andOrnamental horticulture is to recognizehigh scholarship, to foster good rela-tionships among its members, to pro-mote or to facilitate the exchange ofideas among members of the profes-sions, and to establish cordial relationsamong students, educators, and indus-try members.

PAX OFFICERS

President:Douglas C. Needham

Oklahoma State UniversityDepartment of Horticulture

and Landscape Architecture360 AG HALL

Stillwater, OK 74078-6027phone: 405-744-6462

FAX: 405-744-9709e-mail: [email protected]

Vice President:Terri Woods Starman

Department of OrnamentalHorticulture and Landscape Design

University of TennesseeP.O. Box 1071

Knoxville, TN 37901-1071phone: 423-974-7324

FAX: 423-974-1947e-mail: [email protected]

Secretary-Treasurer:David F. Graper

Department of HorticultureForestry, Landscape and ParksSouth Dakota State University

Box 2140-A, NPB 254-DBrookings, SD 57007-0996

phone: 605-688-6253FAX: 605-688-4713

e-mail: [email protected]

Letter from Your President

Who benefits from the Pi Alpha Xi Photography Contest?1. Students. Registration fees for the Photography Contest fund Pi Alpha Xi's schol-arships. Each chapter is encouraged to offer a scholarship to a deserving student in itsfloriculture, ornamental horticulture, or landscape horticulture program, to which PiAlpha Xi National will match up to $100. Pi Alpha Xi National has contributed to$1300 scholarships since the Photography Contest began in 1996. Let's bolster par-ticipation in the Photography Contest and subsequently boost the dollars available forstudent scholarships.2. Contestants. The Photography Contest provides an excellent opportunity for col-leagues of ASHS to show and view beautiful horticultural photography. Prizesinclude $50 for First Place, $25 for Second Place, $10 for Third Place, $50 for Bestin Show, and recognition, of course, is priceless.3. Pi Alpha Xi. As many other honorary organizations, Pi Alpha Xi, can suffer fromlack of visibility. The Photography Contest showcases the beauty of horticulturethrough photographs of flowers, ornamental plants, and landscape or interiorscapescenes. The Photography Contest captures the spirit of camaraderie that is so much apart of Pi Alpha Xi.

This year we had 13 entries in the contest at ASHS. Be sure to check outthe fall issue of the Lotus Leaflet to see the winning entries. Please keep up the goodwork and encourage others to participate in the future.

DougDoug Needham

Note from the Editor.

This is the last issue of the Lotus Leaflet that I will be completely responsible for. Ihope that you have enjoyed the newsletter these last two years and liked what I did.I will be passing on this honor to Bridget Behe from Michigan State University as thenew Pi Alpha Xi National Secretary-Treasurer. I will miss all the “fun duties” asso-ciated with this position but look forward to moving on as Vice President. One thingfor sure, my printer will appreciate the reprieve. If you have any new correspondencefor the Secretary-Treasurer, please send it directly to Bridget. Her address is: A216Plant & Soil Sciences Building, East Lansing, MI 48824.

DaveDavid F. Graper

Spring/Summer

1998 Participants at the 57th Annual Flower Judging Competiton “Bunco” mixer game atSouth Dakota State University April 2, 1997.


57TH NATIONAL INTERCOLLEGIATEFLORAL CROP QUALITY

EVALUATION AND DESIGN COMPETITION A COLORFUL SUCCESS

IN SOUTH DAKOTA

Ten teams from universities across the U.S.competed in the 57th Annual NationalIntercollegiate Floral Crop Quality Evaluation andDesign Competition at South Dakota StateUniversity in Brookings, April 2 and 3. TheDepartment of Horticulture, Forestry, Landscapeand Parks at South Dakota State hosted the event.

Students evaluated quality of cut flowersand flowering and foliage potted plants during thecompetition. Growers from South Dakota,Minnesota, California and Hawaii provided over60 selections of plant material for the contest,according to Dr. David F. Graper, chairperson forthe competition with South Dakota StateUniversity, Department of Horticulture, Forestry,Landscape and Parks and Secretary/treasurer of PiAlpha Xi National, one of the event’s sponsors.

“The students evaluated common floricul-tural crops such as chrysanthemums, carnationsand lilies and exotic ones such as orchids and gin-ger. Many of the cut flowers and potted plantsused in the two-day contest were either grown bySDSU students or from growers in South Dakotaand Minnesota. However, many were alsoobtained from several growers in California andHawaii.

“Coaches spend many hours of preparationwith their students to get ready for the competition.The students not only learn to recognize qualitythrough critical examination, but also to under-stand production techniques which will ensurehigh quality floricultural crops in the industry. Thejudging experience helps them to develop morelogical reasoning skills, to make decisions and alsopractice their presentation skills with their fellowjudges,” he said.

“The competition also provides an excel-lent opportunity for students to interact with indus-try professionals and professors from many of the

Univ. of Wisconsin - River Falls. 1st Place Team.Team members included: Terry Ferriss, Coach;Sabine Green and Saundra Castillo, Asst. Coaches;Carla Logan, Michele Hudson, Jose Quiles, VeronicaSevilla, Aaron Wohler, Keeley Muncrief, Sandy Stout,and Denise Coon.

Cal. Poly State University - 2nd Place Team. Teammembers included: Virginia R. Walter, Coach; LaurieBills, Asst. Coach; Todd Plummer, Emily A. Muloney,Daniel M. McClure, and Brenda H. Schultz.


University of Illinois - 3rd Place Team. Team mem-bers included: Marvin Carbonneau, Coach; NaomiBoehm, Nate Frericks and Julie Kerouac.

Nation’s top schools of horticulture.” They alsoget the chance to know each other. Contacts whichmay become vital to them after they leave collegeand enter into the horticulture industry or go on tograduate school,” he said. Who knows, the stu-dents they got to know while they were here atSDSU could become a business partner, supplier ornational customer.

University of Wisconsin-River Falls atRiver Falls won the team competition in the over-all judging. Other universities and their placingincluded: California Polytechnic State University,second; University of Illinois, third; OklahomaState University, fourth and Kansas StateUniversity, fifth. Paula Christ, University ofWisconsin-River Falls, was the top individual inthe evaluation contest. Daniel B. McClure,California Polytechnic State University, placedsecond and Sarah Beckman, University ofWisconsin - River Falls, placed third.

Paula Christ, University of Wisconsin-River Falls, placed first in the individual cut flowerjudging. Sarah Beckman, University of Wisconsin- River Falls, placed second and Daniel M.McClure, California Polytechnic State University,placed third. For individual potted plant judging,Scott Rusch, South Dakota State University ,placed first. Finishing second was Kelly Rhodes,Oklahoma State University, and placing third wasDaniel M. McClure, California Polytechnic StateUniversity.

Participants in the design contest appliedtheir skills in two levels. Students competing inthe professional divisions had experience in a retailflower shop. In the non-professional division, par-ticipants had no previous professional experience. Division I Class I—One-sided Asymmetrical

First Place—Scott Buchanan, OklahomaState University

Second Place—Lori McNinch, KansasState University

Third Place—Dawn Koster, South DakotaState UniversityDivision I Class II—Round/Oval

First Place—Keely Muncrief, New MexicoState University

Oklahoma State University - 4th Place Team. Teammembers included: Douglas Needham, Coach; ScottBuchanan, Asst. Coach; Kelly Rhodes, ShaunDalrymple, Dora Holland, Mandi Branstetter, HollyDobbs, and Angie Edwards.

Kansas State University - 5th Place Team. Teammembers included: Allen Stevens, Coach; KimWilliams, Coach; Janet Gottstine, Carrie Mangen, LoriMcNinch, and Tim Lytle.

Paula Christ - Univ. of Wisconsin - River Falls - 1stOverall; 1st Cutflowers; 5th Potted Plants; 2ndPlace Designer’s Choice arrangement.


Daniel M. McClure - Cal. Poly. State Univ. - 2ndOverall; 3rd Cutflowers and Potted Plants.

Sarah Beckman - Univ. of Wisconsin - River Falls -3rd Overall; 2nd Cutflowrs; 7th pots. Pots;potsrdRound/Oval.

Scott Rusch - South Dakota State Univ. - 1st Pots;4th Overall.

Second Place—Holly Dobbs, OklahomaState University

Third Place—Naomi Boehm, University ofIllinoisDivision II Class III—Corsage

First Place—Sarah Bryner, Utah StateUniversity

Second Place—Janet Gottstine, KansasState University

Third Place—Mellisa Bartosh, SouthDakota State UniversityDivision II Class IV—Designer’s Choice

First Place—Laura McNeely, Texas A & MUniversity

Second Place—Carrie Mangan, KansasState University

Third Place—Paula Christ, University ofWisconsin - River Falls.

Altogether ten teams competed in the eventincluding: California Polytechnic State University,coached by Virginia Walter; Kansas StateUniversity coached byAlan Stevens and KimWilliams; New Mexico State University, coachedby Geno Picchioni; Oklahoma State Universitycoached by Douglas C Needham; South DakotaState University, coached by David Graper; TexasA&M University, coached by Jim Johnson; TheUniversity of Illinois, coached by MarvinCarbonneau; University of Wisconsin-Platteville,coached by Michael E. Compton; University ofWisconsin-River Falls, coached by Terry Ferrissand Utah State University, coached by LaMarAnderson.

When the students were not competing atthe event, they toured the South DakotaAgricultural Heritage Museum, SDSU Ice CreamPlant, South Dakota Art Museum and the SDSUhorticulture greenhouses. Participants also touredthe EROS Data Center, a USGS facility that uti-lizes satellite imaging to make maps of the world.Hiebert’s Greenhouse, a commercial greenhouse inSioux Falls was also visited during the tour. Teamsalso enjoyed and evening of fun and good foodwith a South Dakota barbeque pork loin sandwich


dinner followed by a rousing game of Bunco whichreally got people interacting with each other andhaving a great time.

“One of the things that really stood out inthis year’s competition was how hard SDSU’s stu-dents worked to put this important event together.Numerous coaches from other teams commentedon how friendly everyone was and how helpful thestudents were.” “I feel that our SDSU students allearned a grand prize for their efforts to put togeth-er a first rate national competition. I never had toworry about things getting done, even when weneeded people to be here at 5:00 AM, they werethere ready to work. They all did a fantastic joband really showed off SDSU as being a great placeto visit and get an education in floriculture,” hesaid.

The event was sponsored by Pi Alpha Xithe national honor society for floriculture, orna-mental horticulture and landscape horticulture;American Floral Endowment; and Paul EckePoinsettias, Inc. PAX and AFE support academicachievement, education and research activities ofthe floriculture industry. Additional financial sup-port and assistance was provided by Gurney Seedand Nursery Co, Yankton, SD, District 7-C of FTDand Perennial Passion of Sioux Falls, SD andSouth Dakota State University, Department ofHorticulture, Forestry, Landscape and ParksDepartment.

Industry Sponsors included: Bachman’s,Minneapolis, MN, Dos Osos Multifloro,Watsonville, CA, Floralife, Inc., Bur Ridge, IL,Fred C. Gloeckner and Co., Inc., Harrison, NY,Hawaii Tropical Flower Council, Hilo, HI, LenBusch Roses, Plymouth, MN; Lynde Greenhouse,Maple Grove, MN, Pleasant Valley Flowers Inc.,Oxnard, CA, Pyramid Flowers, Oxnard, CA,Smithers-Oasis USA, Kent, Ohio and SyndicateSales, Inc., Kokomo, IN.

Kelly Rhodes - Koklahoma State Univ. - 2nd Pots;8th Overall.

Keely Muncreif - New Mexico State Univ. - 1stRound Centerpiece design.

Scott Buchanan - Oklahoma State Univ. - 1st One-sided design.



Sarah Bryner - Utah State Univ. - 1st Corsage.

Laura McNeeley - Texas A & M Univ. - 1stDesigner’s Choice.

Holly Dobbs - Oklahoma State Univ. - 2nd RoundCenterpiece.

New Members to Pi Alpha Xi

Alpha Chapter (1068)Cornell University

Shana BehanRuby BeilLise Caron

Jamie CritelliJason Field

Kelly Hennigan

Steve MunsonSadie Puglisi

Kristina SlaterDonna VasiloffPeter Vidulich

Matthew Willann

Beta Chapter (569)University of Illinois - Urbana Champaign

Naomi BoehmKeri BrumfieldKevin ColombeKathryn DieterVanessa GageNancy Holda

Heather KraujalisPatricia LockeLaura Maupin

Joe Muehlethaler

Tim QuigleyAnn RedingtonErin Robinson

Kathryn SadowskiJoey SchaljoBeth Smith

Jennifer StahlJennifer Strauss

Jay HensleyHeather O'Connor

Gamma Chapter (872)Pennsylvania State University

Andy FaustKosta BounosJustin Wheeler

Eric MesicsJim KallenbornTony AssettoKory Beidler

Amanda Carson

Charlene WentzWilliam Peacock IIIAmanda McDanielSamantha Rodgers

Jay RohrbachAndrew Macijowsky

Holly HarrisMathew Seifer

Iota Chapter (495)North Carolina State University

Carrie BlackmanDenae BrownTyler BurgessThad CherrySandra CookDon DavisJon Davis

Frankie FanelliKimberly KeechPhilip Lassiter

Anthony Lebude

Young Mi-OhDavid NordenJulia Parker

Kimberly PartinAdam Pflum

Evangeline RichardsonPhyllis Richardson

Kevin SipeBruton StrangeJohnny Woodall

Allison Modafferi

New Mexico State University Team membersincldued: Geno Picchioni, Coach; Sabine Green andSaundra Castillo, Asst. Coaches; Carla Logan,Michele Hudson, Jose Quiles, Veronica Sevilla, AaronWohler, Keely Muncrief, Sandy Stout, and Danise

South Dakota State University Team membersincluded: David Graper, Coach, RebeccaSiemonsma, Asst. Coach; Scott Rusch, Allison Peters,Erica Weeks, Cory Hawley, Dawn Koster, SarahJensen, Mellisa Bartosh, Ted Heeren, Jeremy Elsom,Travis Christensen, and Jamie Rossow.

Texas A & M University Team members included:Jim Johnson, Coach; Laura McNeely, ChristineMacAlpine, Christie Caldwell, Dana Norris, SonalGupta, and Laura Turpin.

Kappa Chapter (517)Virginia Polytech. Inst. & State University

Stephen BlackSuzanne Chance

Emily GivensBrian Ray

Jennifer BurnElizabeth CarterRobert Creegan

Elizabeth FedericoBrandon FisherAlison Hectus

Matthew JonesCarrie Jubb

Ann MacloskeyJulia Marsh

Donna MartinEdward McGarry

Matt ThackerBrian Trader

Kenneth Van HovenJohn VarrieurAndrea Wise

Upsilon Chapter (804)California Polytechnic State University

Kerry M. AbelBryan J. AshbyLisa J. Dance

Michele A. DonahueTimothy J. Isle

Christine JaureguiAngela R. Lopopolo

Jennifer PerezJordan P. Schwarten

Stephen E. SwartBarbara A. Bravo

Kate S. FloresDavid M. Karp

Stephanie H. KnochLiana M. May

Megan C. McGrathHarriet L. Morris

Amy C. PearsonMartyn C. Phillips

Anne-Marie E. PlubellBrenda H. Schultz

Alana M. WoodruffBarbara A. Bravo

Kate S. FloresDavid M. Karp

Stephanie H. KnochLiana M. May

Megan C. McGrathHarriet L. MorrisAmy C. Pearson

Martyn C. PhillipsAnne-Marie E. Plubell

Brenda H. SchultzAlana M. Woodruff

Phi Chapter (147)South Dakota State University

Jennifer BassSteen Garvey

Stephanie KoehlerDavid Mills

Allison PetersMary Roduner

Ed RogichSam Shroyer

Chi ChapterColorado State University (493)

Cara AblinDeirdre Anderson

David P. BefusBen J. BookoutCindy ChicklesCalvin R. Cook

Nicole W. S. DavelisB. Joanne Jones

Sharon Lehman KendallWade Jeffrey PruettRieka Dawn Long

Christopher J. MitchellLoretta MannixSean R. TullySarah Strong

Lisa M. SteinkeDana Schubert

Joseph E. SchmidtNathanial A. F. Parker

David P. MonheiserJill Meryl Morganelli

Kelly Anne KingDianne M. Oakley

Julie Peterson-HarmsNatasha MurphyTina Reynolds

Andrea K. CumminsCatherine E. Hudachek

Shannon Miller



University of Wisconsin - Platteville Team membersincluded: Michael Compton, Coach; AngelaLawrence, Asst. Coach; Jennie Schulz, Scott Gensler,Nick Homan, Jodi Katsma, Brenda Fuchs, FredWestphal, and Jason Jawarski.

Utah State University Team members included:LaMar Anderson, Coach; Sheri Andersen, Asst.Coach; Tina Mansing, Monica Hoxsie, Ilene Lish,NatalieWankier, Sara Reich, Sara Bryner, and MarieTaylor.

Neil Hamilton BargerGary P. Campbell

Suzanne W. CochraneMichelle D. Conners

Amy Elizabeth JohnsonSusan J. McGinelyChristopher Palmer

Brandon P. ShraderEllen C. Stevenson

Amy StockMerideth C. Story

Holly SwanSusan Tantsits

Alpha Mu Chapter (74)Temple University

Psi Chapter (235)Texas A&M University

Trisha BlessingtonPris Files

Chris FreemanTiffany Kowalik

Sarah LinebergerEmily Mason

Crysta McDanelChristi Schneider

Elizabeth ThurstonOmega Chapter (381)

Kansas State University

Kimberly BrayMelissa L. ClarkKirsten Morgan

Lori L. McNinch

Travis OchsFili Sanchez

Sarah Jayne Schlosser

Alpha Beta Chapter (239)University of Tennessee

Tina BuskoBetty Christian

Matthew LindowWilliam Shealy

Michael Andrew SmithMelinda Spurgeon

Dawn WalshCynthia Cosson

Lisa Richardson-CalfeeEmma BlairJason Collier

Lindsay A. DardenSarah Jane HollinsCharles P. HughesPaula B. Hunter

R. Lee IvyBrandon Jarrett

Clint LehmanJason LingenfelterJoshua R. Marsh

Kathy L. McGrawDavid O'NanLeif Owen

Jason S. ReevesRita Scruggs

Linda M. SealsJustin Senter

Anjana SharmaStephanie A. S. Sime

Lee SimsMark Wesley SpencerJason Andrew Teague

Janet Valentine

Alpha Gamma Chapter (158)University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Lisa Ann BlumKaren M. Meyer

Livia SpenceSara Spence

M. Steven HohmanAnne R. Trumble

Ryan StewartHeather Dawn Pollman

Catherine PaulKrista M. SedivyKendra McGaryBrian SchimekKyoko Ikegami

Alice V. HemsathRichard Elmer Gilbert

Carrie StropeAlpha Zeta Chapter (99)

University of Wisconsin - River Falls

Sharon CarlsonJill Fossum

Heather Klescewski

Monica KlinkHope Onken

Kristy Rathbun

Alpha Nu Chapter (30)Utah State University

Melissa BostwickTina M. G. MensingCamille Vida RobertsSarah Douglas Smith

Emily ThackerayNeil R. Williams

Alex WardCrystal Epler

pi alpha xi

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