Students help grad plant seedlings in renewed Earth Day activity

Monday, May 1, 2023

Photos by Victoria Hurwitz, director of physical therapist assistant

Students in the physical therapist assistant program spent part of Earth Day planting trees on the land of Paul Huffman, a 1987 graduate of Penn College forerunner Williamsport Area Community College. Huffman’s conservation-based Trailing Pines Tree Farm is in Lewis Township, Northumberland County.

The Penn College volunteers gather with landowner Paul Huffman (back right), a 1987 graduate in individual studies.

“This year, we had the honor of helping Paul plant over 200 seedlings on his property,” said Victoria Hurwitz, director of physical therapist assistant. The efforts are part of the Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership, which aims to improve Pennsylvania’s communities, economy and ecology by planting 10 million trees throughout the commonwealth. The eight-year goal was set in 2018; thus far, nearly 5.4 million trees have been planted.

The Penn College physical therapist assistant program has been helping Huffman to plant trees since 2020.

Student Lauren Bennett (second from left), of Bloomsburg, and her partner, Eric (left), join (from left) students Danielle R. Landis, of Trout Run; Nathan M. Wolf, of Dover; and Nathan R. Hoyer, of Elizabethtown. The four students are members of the physical therapist assistant Class of 2023.

Husband-and-wife duo Renee and Aric Root, of Wellsboro, lend their hands – and knees – to the effort. Aric plans to graduate from the physical therapist assistant major in August.

Student Danielle R. Landis, of Trout Run, digs in ...

... while Landis’ daughter holds a young tree steady for Bennett.

Ari Hurwitz, son of the program director, celebrates getting one spruce tree closer to the 10 million tree goal.

Victoria Hurwitz joins students Landis and Bennett in front of the enormous root system of a fallen tree.

Representing the Class of 2024: Physical therapist assistant students Grace N. Allen, of South Williamsport; Marlee M. Swank, of Elysburg; Marianna Dariychuk, of Leola; Jamie O. Krause, of Lititz; and Corrin N. Evans, of Morrisdale, plus Ziva Hurwitz (daughter of the program director).