Noted CTE teacher leads team on Arlington Cemetery project.

Kidwai, Sabrina

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THIS SUMMER, ACTE TEACHER OF THE YEAR JIM SCOTT, six students and another teacher from Tolles Career and Technical Center visited Washington, D.C., to volunteer for a project called "Renewal and Remembrance" at Arlington National Cemetery. The event--hosted by PLANET, an international association that serves professionals in lawn care, landscape management, interior plantscapers and design/build/ installation--engaged volunteers in pruning, planting and doing other groundwork at the cemetery.

Scott teaches turf, landscape and greenhouse management at Tolles, in Plain City, Ohio. He and his students joined more than 400 volunteers in working to beautify the grounds of Arlington Cemetery. (Scott's group was the only one comprised of high school students.)

Scott's students and representatives from green organizations and businesses worked on acrifiying two sections of the cemetery. Aerification is a mechanical process that creates more air space in the soil and promotes deeper rooting, thus helping the grass plants stay healthy. Scott said that when he learned about PLANET's event, he wanted to bring his students because they could learn new techniques in lawn management, and about the importance of giving back. PLANET also provides volunteers an opportunity to network with representatives from business and industry and to lobby on Capitol Hill.

"By giving back to the community, you are paying it forward," said Scott. "Students are learning different skills that build their resume and the art of networking. This event also gives us the power on Capitol Hill to get our foot in the door to talk about volunteering and the importance of career and technical education (CTE) with policymakers."

During Legislative Day on Capitol Hill, Scott and his students met with Sen. George Voinovich, Sen. Sherrod Brown and Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy to discuss CTE, the importance of Perkins funding, and students talked about their experience in FFA. Rep. Kilroy arranged a visit with the Acting Architect of the Capitol, Stephen Ayers, who talked with students about career pathways and provided insight into his job and how students can get started in a similar career. Ayers scheduled a meeting with the curator of the U.S. Botanical Gardens, where students learned about internship opportunities.

"We talked with Ayers about what it took to get a job on the Capitol, and what you had to go through to become an architect," said high school senior Ben Robinson. "It was very helpful for me because I've always wanted to become an architect. He told me that it takes a lot of discipline and dedication to get to where you want to be."

Each year PLANET hosts a dinner and networking reception for volunteers, and the representatives from business and industry who sponsor and participate in the event. At the most recent event high school senior Jordan Byers got an offer he couldn't refuse after meeting an Arizona businessman who owns a landscaping business. Byers said they talked about the entrepreneur's growing landscaping enterprise, and he offered Byers an opportunity to work with him as an intern next summer.

Meanwhile, other students took home invaluable lessons from their four-day trip to the Capitol.

"One of the life lessons I learned was if you really want something, you have to work hard at it, so you can be very successful in life," said junior Luke Varvarosky. "I've learned more in the past four days than I have in my whole school career. This has been the most challenging part of my life, and it's a great feeling that I can be successful."

"By participating in this event, you build a sense of responsibility and you learn values that transfer through life," Byers added.

Scott said that he would like to see more high school programs getting involved in this kind of volunteerism by putting together trips for students.

"This event by PLANET provides a great opportunity for students because they not only give back to the national community, but it gives students a sense of ownership that they did something important."

PLANET's Legislative Day on the Hill and "Renewal and Remembrance" event is open to all PLANET members. If you are interested in becoming a member, please e-mail Shaine Anderson at shaineanderson@landcarenetwork.org or call PLANET at 800-395-2522.

Sabrina Kidwai is ACIE's media relations manager. She can be contacted at skidwai@acteonline.org.