Carnations, baby’s breath and leather ferns are strewn across tables amidst floral foam and supply bowls as students in Melinda Spaur’s floral design class prepare to assemble their first floral arrangements of the semester. Spaur, an agricultural science teacher at Windsor High School in Windsor, CO, demonstrates the method of inserting cut flowers into floral foam as her students observe her technique. Step-by-step, Spaur guides her students as they create their arrangements. After all the steps are completed, the students sit back and proudly observe their arrangements.
One of the leading agricultural science programs in the state, Windsor offers a variety of pathways and classes to its agricultural students. While the Windsor area itself boasts a robust agricultural industry, the majority of Windsor students do not have an agricultural background. To help their students see the importance of agriculture and the career opportunities within the industry, agricultural science teachers Spaur and Shannon Baylie have designed pathways specifically to prepare students for careers within the agricultural industry in the Windsor area. Part of the plant science pathway, the floriculture class focuses on plant science principles and basic floral design techniques. In addition, students learn the general employability and business skills needed to begin a career in the floriculture industry. Spaur offers her students the opportunity to earn the Benz School of Floral Design Principles of Floral Design Certification as a capstone to the course.
Developed by one of the world’s leading floral design institutions, the Benz School of Floral Design Principles of Floral Design Certification validates mastery of fundamental artistic elements and principles and their applications in floral design. Earners of the Benz School of Floral Design Principles of Floral Design Certification have proven they are qualified and prepared to begin a career in the floral design industry.
Since implementing the Benz School of Floral Design Principles of Floral Design Certification in the floriculture class, Spaur has seen positive impacts on her students’ academic performance and their employment opportunities.
When students see they can get a certification at the end of a class, it motivates them,” said Spaur. “It gives them the drive to do well in their classes because they want to earn that certification at the end of the program.”
Connecting Education to Industry
Along with increasing student motivation, earning the Benz School of Floral Design Principles of Floral Design Industry Certification helped many of Spaur’s students find their passion for floral design and a desire to pursue a career in the industry. One of Spaur’s former students attended Colorado State University to pursue a degree in horticulture after graduating from Windsor.
While attending Colorado State, this student started a part-time floral business where she creates floral arrangements for weddings and other events in the Ft. Collins area. Several of Spaur’s students have secured positions in local flower shops, and one student works in the floral department of a regional grocery store chain. For other students, earning the Benz School of Floral Principles of Floral Design Certification was a starting point for further education. Two Windsor alumni have gone on to receive training from the Plamer Institute of Floral Design.
Tori Weber earned the Benz School of Floral Design Principles of Floral Design Certification in 2019 after taking Spaur’s floriculture class. A third-generation Windsor student, Weber is an active member of the Windsor FFA chapter and serves as the chapter’s president. Before taking the floriculture class, Weber had an interest in floriculture, but throughout her time in the class, Weber’s interest bloomed into a passion for floral design.
“Throughout the year, I got more involved and interested in the class,” said Weber. “At first, I just thought it would be fun, but as the year went on, I realized floral design was something I really enjoyed doing.”
A senior at Windsor, Weber aims to follow her passion and pursue a career in the floral industry. Weber plans to enroll in cosmetology school after graduating from high school, and upon completion of her program, she intends to start a wedding company. In her business model, Weber’s company will offer hair and makeup styling, as well as creating all of the floral arrangements for the venue.
Currently, Weber works as a barista at a local coffee shop. She says having the Benz School of Floral Design Principles of Floral Design Certification helped her secure her position. “My employer was impressed that I already had a certification, even though I was still in high school,” said Weber.
Based on the success students like Weber achieve after earning the Benz School of Floral Design Principles of Floral Design Certification, Spaur and her students have seen the real value of industry certifications and the important role they play in academic and career development.
“Students can go right into the workforce with a certification to prove they have some basic knowledge, or they can go on and get a four-year degree and use the certification as the starting point,” said Spaur. “Certifications like the Benz School of Floral Design Principles of Floral Design Certification are valuable to our students, our school and our communities.”
