Stacey Yuccas, a 2011 graduate of the horticulture program at Kishwaukee College, spent a few days this past December working on every floral designers’ dream: a float for the annual New Year’s Day Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, Calif. 

Yuccas, who now lives in California, was a member of the crew who constructed the float entry for the Dole Corp. The theme of the float was Dreaming of Paradise and was designed and built by Fiesta Parade Floats. Yuccas worked for Jim Hynd at Fiesta and under lead designer Philip Rice, a floral designer she has worked with before in Sacramento. 

The entry won the Sweepstakes Trophy for “Most Beautiful Entry in Parade with Outstanding Floral Presentation and Design.”