Students grow under leadership of the Winamac Tree Committee

Reviving the Winamac Tree Committee was not only a growing endeavor for the town but also for the students that are adding new energy. 
The tree committee is now a combination of adults mentoring high school students as they create a vision of urban renewal in Winamac. Don Darda, who is the committee president, said since the restructuring of the committee in October of 2015, they have been reforming the mindset and function for urban renewal. The idea of getting the students involved, is if the youth are involved then an awareness is being brought to the attention of their families. 
The group started with four seniors: Will Kiefer, Sam Hinkle, Lorrin Alexander and Ryan Salazar, and one sophomore, Torrin Garbison. Those students have recently recruited younger students, who can continue with the committee for more than one year. Underclassmen include Brooke May, Calvin Rausch, Domanic Heater, Jebediah Smith, Peyton Newman, Rachel Ploss and Saira Montes.  
Darda hopes that the students who are part of the tree committee will come away from the experience learning life skills. 
Mentors of the group include Darda, Zahrt, Judy Poor, Tippecanoe State Park Assistant Property Manager Jake Shapely, Winamac Town Manager Brad Zellers and Stanley Czech.
The adults of the committee conduct the meetings while the students are adding to it. The group has held seven meetings. Heater said when the officers are soon elected, the plan is to have junior officers. Students are adding to the meetings, helping with the planting and organizing the event, learning how to apply and finish grants and ordering plaques. 
Not only are students learning about urban renewal but they are also learning life skills. They have created a new logo for the tree committee, are learning the procedures of local government and to work with different governmental agencies such as the Town of Winamac, the Tippecanoe River State Park and the Winamac Parkway Committee. They are also learning to be community leaders. 
The committee, along with volunteers, will be planting a dozen trees on April 30, as their next big project. The trees will be planted around town at different businesses and locations.  
For more information, contact the Town of Winamac at 574-946-3451.