MiraCosta horticulture student wins engine repair competition

OCEANSIDE — MiraCosta College student Dean Levy took first place in the Small Engine Repair competition at the 34th annual Professional Landcare Network, or PLANET, Student Career Days held in Georgia. Student Career Days is an annual three-day competitive event for students enrolled in horticulture programs from colleges and universities across the country. The event is sponsored by PLANET and other national corporations.
Levy, who was coached by MiraCosta auto mechanics instructor Arnoldo Williams, was joined in the various events by 13 other MiraCosta students, all majoring in one of the college’s certificate programs. In addition to Williams, the students were mentored, supported and accompanied by MiraCosta Horticulture instructors Claire Ehrlinger, Megan Fairleigh and Jason Kubrock.
Other MiraCosta students of note include Chris Hinojosa, who placed fifth overall, and Patrick Crais, who placed third in Irrigation Troubleshooting. The MiraCosta team placed 20th overall out of 67 colleges and universities. A toolbox, filled with every tool needed to service a Stihl small engine, was awarded to the MiraCosta Hort/Applied Technologies Department by the Stihl Corporation.
This annual event affords students the opportunity to compete in events that are directly related to the skills necessary for a career in the green industry.