The EP Henry family loves to support our communities. Being family-owned and steeped in generations of tradition, we especially enjoy watching the next generation grow. In Centre County in Pennsylvania, we noticed a special spark of creativity and charity in a group of students and their teacher, and we were honored to lend them a hand.
Through HeroScaping®, a Hardscaping donation program started by EP Henry, pavers and wall products were awarded to Joe Luther’s Horticulture and Landscaping students who attend the Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology (CPI). The class used the pavers to design and build a display at Centre County’s Home and Garden Show. Their display, called “Centre Park,” was the main focal point of the convention. The installation was judged along with professional contractors’ displays. The students have won Best in Show 2 years in a row. After the show’s conclusion, the students break down the installation. Then the real magic happens.
These hardworking young people volunteer their time and tremendous effort to transport, design and permanently install a patio for a deserving US Armed Forces Veteran in the local area. Veterans were nominated by the public during the Home and Garden Show. A panel of judges as well as the students themselves read through this year’s 82 “Patio for a Patriot” entries and accomplished the hard task of naming one veteran to honor. It’s called The HeroScaping Project.
“We’re honored and privileged,” said Mr. Luther, “to donate [our time and energy] to the HeroScaping program. It’s a great way to give back.” Plus, he says, it’s a great experience for the students. Not only do they get to express their gratitude to one of our country’s veterans, they get essential hands-on knowledge in the process. The HeroScaping project gives students the opportunity to deal with the typical hard knocks of a live installation, with its uneven surfaces and general unpredictability. “In our shop and at the show, we have a concrete, flat surface,” Mr. Luther said. “Live work projects are completely different. We’re building the installations, doing the excavation, setting the base, and then compacting the stone. You don’t want to build it and have a problem down the road.”
Their dedication and efforts earned Mr. Luther’s class EP Henry’s Dick Bushnell Award for exemplary service to the community.* In a few weeks, this year’s Patio for Patriots winner, Vince Reynolds of State College, PA, will have a new EP Henry backyard patio installed, courtesy of The HeroScaping Project and this awesome group of next generation community leaders. We’ll have pictures to share when the project is completed.
Join us in congratulating Joe and his students by liking and sharing the class’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/CpiHorticultureLandscaping/
*Dick Bushnell was a Henry family member, a veteran who gave his life for this country. Dick exemplified the virtues of charity and dedication, and EP Henry presents this award in his honor.