Jacob Wrigley, a 10th-grade Tulpehocken student and Horticulture student at Berks Career and Technology Center, is growing his passion for plants in and out of the classroom. This summer marked his third-year volunteering at Hershey Gardens, where he proudly served as part of the Volunteen program.
Each week, Jacob worked alongside the maintenance crew, lending a hand with pulling weeds, mulching, trimming rose bushes, and tackling other important tasks to keep the gardens beautiful for visitors. His dedication extended beyond garden care—Jacob also took part in Volunteen Young Scientist Day, where he and a friend conducted a study with hissing Madagascar cockroaches. They discovered that, of the tested variables—food, water, and heat—food was the biggest motivator for the roaches to come out of the dark.
The combination of his volunteer hours and the Young Scientist Day project also allowed Jacob to fulfill the requirements for his senior project at Tulpehocken High School—an impressive accomplishment as only a sophomore.
Jacob’s experiences have not only strengthened his horticultural skills but also fueled his dreams for the future. He shared that his aspirations are “to work at Hershey Gardens and to have my own landscape business.” With his passion, dedication, and hands-on learning, Jacob is well on his way to making that dream a reality.