STARKVILLE, Miss.--Three Mississippi State floral management majors are top winners in student competition at the Southern Symposium of the American Institute of Floral Designers.
They include university junior Mariah R. Baird of Starkville and sophomores Christina M. "Christi" Babin of Collierville, Tenn., and Marianne E. Cassisa of Oxford.
Baird, who also is majoring in landscape architecture, finished in overall first place in the five-category challenge held as part of the organization's recent meeting in Louisville, Ky. Additionally, she was honored with the People's Choice Award, based on a vote of AIFD members in attendance.
Babin finished in overall second place, while Cassisa was recognized with overall third-place honors.
This year's competitive categories included flowers-to-wear, flowers-to-carry, sympathy, birthday, and designer's choice.
By virtue of the wins, the Mississippi State team will seek to repeat in Palm Desert, Calif., this July what the university's regional floral design winners achieved last year--winning the national AIFD design championship.
LOCAL EDITORS:
Baird is the daughter of Richard and Sonya Baird; Babin, the daughter of Paul and Pam Babin; and Cassisa, the daughter of Paul and Jane Cassisa.
For more information about Mississippi State University, see http://www.msstate.edu/.
