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Beau Nagan (right) receives instructions from event judge Don Roppollo, a 1995 WIU graduate, in the speed climb.
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Forestry Club Students Bring Home Top Awards from Nat'l Forestry Expo

November 17, 2006

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MACOMB, IL – Western Illinois University Forestry Club students know their trees, and they proved it recently at the world’s largest tree care industry trade show and conference in Baltimore.

Eight club members recently participated in the TCI (Tree Care Industry) Expo, held in Baltimore, MD Nov. 9-11, and brought some top awards back to the WIU-Macomb campus.

According to Tom Green, agriculture professor and Forestry Club adviser, more than 70 students from two- and four-year colleges from across the United States competed in five events at the expo: speed climb (scramble), work climb, throw line, equipment safety check and a written exam.

Beau Nagan, a Western Illinois senior agriculture major from Homewood (IL), was named first overall after finishing first in the throw line competition and the written exam. Andrew Dye, a senior biological sciences major from Princeton (IL), placed second in the written exam competition, while Desiree Hughes, a senior agriculture major and Forestry Club president from Macomb (IL), finished third.

Other Forestry Club students competing included Charles Shonts, a junior agriculture major from Elmhurst (IL); Aaron Pollock, a junior agriculture major from Oregon (IL); Jonathon Ward, a sophomore agriculture major from Chillicothe (IL); Michael Pfaff, a senior biological sciences major from Winfield (IL); and Geoffrey Watson, a junior agriculture major from Naperville (IL).

“I’m extremely proud of our students,” Green said. “The competitions were tough, and our students had an outstanding showing.”

In addition to the competition and workshops, participating students were also able to attend a job fair at the expo, as well as tour John Hopkins UniversityÂ’s campus to learn how to protect trees from construction-related injuries.








Posted By: Darcie Shinberger (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing