Delaware Valley University Alumnus Helps Create Award-Winning Rose Parade Float
Ed Copenhaver ’75, a Delaware Valley University alumnus, was part of decorating floats for the 2019 Rose Parade.
Copenhaver said working on floats for the Rose Parade has been on his bucket list ever since he was a senior in college.
“We had a great trip to California and enjoyed volunteering to decorate a float for the Rose Parade,” said Copenhaver. “We spent the majority of our time on the City of Alhambra float which consisted of a large birdhouse with the title 'Home Tweet Home'.”
The float won the Princess Award - which is for the best floral display on a float that is 35 feet or less. The design included 34,400 flowers including roses, orchids, iris, carnations, straw flowers, split peas and numerous beans and seeds.
Courtesy: Ed Copenhaver ’75. Ed Copenhaver ’75 (right) working on the 2019 Rose Parade float “Home Tweet Home.”
Copenhaver earned his degree in ornamental horticulture from DelVal. After DelVal, he went on to become president of Stony Bridge Landscaping, in Lebanon, Pennsylvania. He hired two DelVal alumni, Donald Becker ’77 and Ray Boltz ’87, to work for him.
Copenhaver visited campus in December with William H. Wells of Water Crest Farms Nursery in West Grove, Pennsylvania. While on campus they presented a horticulture student, Craig Hart ’20, with a scholarship from The Pennsylvania Landscape & Nursery Association (PLNA).