Three College of DuPage Horticulture students recently placed second at the Hardscape North America Installer Competition in Louisville, Kentucky. 

Enrique Lopez of Warrenville, Juan Serna of Hanover Park and Cristian Gonzalez of Wheaton competed in the championship, which tested the skill, dedication and passion of hardscape contractors from across North America.

Teams of three were given 60 minutes in the first preliminary round to transform raw materials into intricate paver designs. Participants were judged for precision, creativity, safety and adherence to industry best practices. The top four teams from the preliminary round of nine teams advanced to the final competition, where they had 90 minutes to create and build their own paver design.  

The COD students held their own against mostly industry professionals and demonstrated an exceptional level of skill, said Brian Clement, assistant professor of Horticulture at COD.

“I am very proud of the students who competed with some of the best hardscape contractors from across North America,” Clement said. “Their dedication and passion were very evident in the 90-minute competition, which tested their craftsmanship, speed and strategic planning.” 

Learn more about the Horticulture program at College of DuPage.