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RAYMOND – For Eric Skipper of Brandon, ��«Ӱҵ’s Landscape Management Technology program was the gateway to owning his own business, Blue Sky Landscaping.

“Through my internship with the program I was able to gain knowledge that can’t be taught in the classroom while also establishing a relationship with my biggest client today,” said Skipper, who started his own business in 2005 after earning a credential. “I’ve been able to recommend classmates of the program to jobs and have also received recommendations from those same classmates.”

The program is celebrating 30 years with a two-day reunion for all past graduates on Feb. 24-25. ��«Ӱҵ celebrates 100 Years of Community Inspired Service with a nearly a year’s worth of activities, of which the reunion is a part.

Events begin at 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24 with an afternoon of fishing and games. A reception and dinner program for adults only are planned Saturday, Feb. 25, starting at 4:30 p.m. Both events are at Eagle Ridge Conference Center on the Raymond Campus. Cost is $25 per adult for Friday and Saturday. For Saturday only, the cost is $20 for adults.

“I am looking forward to the 30^th anniversary reunion of the Landscape Management program and catching up with former students, their families, and their careers,” said Martha Hill, of Clinton, director of the program. “Many of our former students are successful business owners, managers of landscape companies, employees of city public works departments, and more.”

Relationships made through the Landscape Management program have resulted in jobs and, for those who’ve become entrepreneurs with the degree earned, long-lasting business contacts. And, graduates of the program have gone on to successful careers after coming through a close-knit program that felt like family.

“Going to ��«Ӱҵ and being in Martha Hill’s program was one of the best decisions I had ever made,” said Mara Wood, a 2014 graduate who now works as a utility arborist for Alabama Power. “In the close-knit Landscape Management group we not only studied together, but did projects outside and learned a trade together.”

For more information, contact the alumni office at 601.857.3363 or 601.857.3290. Potential attendees are asked to register there by phone or online at hub.hindscc.edu/LMTreunion.

Lodging is available at Eagle Ridge and may be reserved by contacting the center, at 601.857.7100, and mentioning the ��«Ӱҵ Landscape Management Reunion.

For up-to-date information about ��«Ӱҵ’s Centennial celebration, see the  news and calendar section at or 100years.hindscc.edu.

��«Ӱҵ CC Centennial Celebration calendar for March-April

• March 25, 3 pm. – ��«Ӱҵ Connection reunion, Fountain Hall; registration and visiting from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. with dinner at 5; dinner tickets are $15. For more information, please contact Mark Stanton at stanton@hindscc.edu or 601.857.3388.
• March 31, 2 p.m. – Naming of Mary Ann Greene Building at Jackson Campus-Academic/Technical Center
• April 4, 7 p.m. – ��«Ӱҵ Concert Band and Steel Drum Band Spring Concert; Cain-Cochran Hall, Hogg Auditorium; admission is free
• April 6, 7 p.m. – ��«Ӱҵ Wind Ensemble and Percussion Ensemble, Delta State University Wind Ensemble and ��«Ӱҵ/DSU combined brass Spring Concert; Cain-Cochran Hall, Hogg Auditorium; admission is free.
• April 8 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Softball and Baseball Reunion; attendees can play golf at Eagle Ridge Golf Course in the morning; tee time is 8 a.m. Food and visiting are 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. before games get started; Joe G. Moss Baseball Field and Rene’ Warren Softball Field

[tweetable alt=””]��«Ӱҵ CC Landscape Management program reunion set for Feb. 24-25[/tweetable]