"Seeds of Success" continues to train students in horticulture
After a COVID hiatus, the “Seeds of Success” horticulture course is back at Monroe County Community College.
The course is for students with disabilities and is offered through MCCC and Monroe County Intermediate School District. Ten students are enrolled this year.
Kriston Roman from the ISD is a new instructor this year. Instructor Bianca Sander from MCCC has served the program for seven years.
The course allows “Monroe County students with disabilities, ages 18-26, to prepare for meaningful employment in the greenhouse/garden center industry,” said MCCC.
The program was started in 2008 by William Hite, principal of ISD; Sharon Diefenthaller, a teacher at the ISD, and Barry Kinsey, director of workforce development at MCCC. Funding comes from the ISD.
“It is a transition course that uses the Junior Master Gardner curriculum developed by the Michigan State Extension office, along with additional course materials developed by the college and the ISD,” said Kinsey.
The instructional portion of the program is provided on MCCC's campus, where the students are taught by a college instructor and a special education teacher in MCCC's biology laboratory and greenhouse. The noncredit course includes 72.5 hours of instruction.
"Each student receives a college identification badge and has the same privileges as all other MCCC students," said Kinsey. "The remainder of their coursework is conducted in the community at Mathes Greenhouse and St. Isidore Farm, where students learn valuable academic, vocational and work experience skills. Previous students have accepted employment positions in the community, while others have chosen to return for additional training.”
The program boasts several success stories.
“The students have some amazing talents. Previous success stories include one young man who discovered that he had a gift for creating floral arrangements and was offered a position at a florist,” said Kinsey. “Another young man speaks several languages and is helpful with customers. He is currently enrolled at MCCC as a credit student. Another student transferred to a similar program that the ISD has with our local hospital called Project Search.”
Kinsey is encouraged by the "Seeds of Success."
"This program has been a win-win for everyone involved -- the students have been able to experience a college campus as a student, something that was not possible prior to this program," said Kinsey. "Students are very eager to learn, and in the past showed their appreciation by creating and maintaining a perennial flower garden in front of the Life Sciences Building where they attend class. The community is gaining well-trained and dedicated individuals to assist them with their greenhouse and garden center experiences."
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: "Seeds of Success" continues to train students in horticulture
