We are pleased to announce this year's recipient of the Kirk's Lawn Care Excellence in Horticulture Award, Pierce Marks. He received a $500.00 check, a personal plaque and his name added to the perpetual plaque that is hung on the walls of the Owen J. Roberts High School. Pierce plans to attend Delaware Valley University in the fall. He participated in the school's horticulture program all 4 years and has been an instrumental leader in the program encouraging and recruiting other students to join. He has also guided those that were new to the program and managed many aspects of the shop and greenhouse independently. Pierce's talent for greenhouse management is one reason the campus has many different annuals planted on it today. We would like to wish Pierce the best of luck with his future endeavors.

Kirk, owner of Kirk's Lawn Care and OJR horticulture program alumnus, created an annual scholarship award and is designated for a student who has participated in the horticulture program and has displayed an exemplary attitude and extraordinary skill development. The horticulture program teaches students on various topics such as landscape design and installation, plant, weed and pest identification, plant propagation and floral design. The program is also very hands on with students maintaining school landscapes and growing flowers in the on-site greenhouse that are then planted around campus. This program is very unique to OJR with most other districts not offering this elective option.

The program contributed to much of the passion and knowledge Kirk used to grow Kirk's Lawn Care. He was also the vice president of the horticulture club while taking the program.