"I can't really put my feelings into words," Oldis said.
Oldis got her start studying ornamental horticulture at College of DuPage in 1975.
After completing her horticulture studies at COD, equipped with confidence and an array of skill sets, Oldis opened a floral shop in 1986 in downtown Glen Ellyn that became a staple in the community for 16 years.
Oldis never steered too far away from the college, coming back to teach advanced floral design in 2001 after retired Horticulture Program Coordinator Judy Burgholzer called her and said that students would benefit from her expertise.
"While I left COD as a student, I never stopped staying connected to the college community," Oldis said.
While Oldis closed her floral shop in 2000, she continued to stay active with the American Institute of Floral Designers and now serves as a freelance floral design consultant in her hometown of Shelter Bay, Washington.