Horticulture Professor Preaches Sustainability & Careers to High Schoolers

August 31, 2020

Professor Michael Veracka

When ReWild Long Island wanted a college professor to make a presentation to Port Washington High School students doing a summer-learning program caring for four area non-profit gardens, they turned to one of the best in FSC’s Department of Horticulture and Urban Design: Professor Michael Veracka.

ReWild Long Island – which helps protect and improve biodiversity, resilience, and health of regional ecosystems through an emphasis on native plants and wildlife – wanted Professor Veracka talk about careers and studies related to designing a lifestyle with an emphasis on sustainability.

“I found the students bright, attentive, and passionate about the field work they are involved in, as well as curious about what careers are out there in the wide world of sustainability,” says Professor Veracka.

“I discovered that the students, ReWild, and myself share the common goal of involvement within applied-teaching projects that demonstrate how everyday students, working together, can help solve our global environmental problems, while simultaneously making our local communities a better place.”

Now, Professor Veracka says, he wouldn’t be surprised to one day find some of these students working in FSC’s Sustainable Garden.

“We’d love to have such committed young adults choose Farmingdale State College as a place to hone and broaden their skills and knowledge base!”