Kent ISD — Adison Sturm has always liked being outside.
“I never really thought about having it as a job until I got into Scouting and started working at a summer camp,” said the Kent Career Tech Center agriscience student. “I realized I can’t imagine working anywhere where I’m not outside or helping the environment. I just fell in love with it, and I’ve had a hard time falling out of love.”
Her passion for the outdoors most recently led to her earning the state title for the FFA’s Proficiency Award in Environmental Science and Natural Resources.
In October, Adison — the only Kent County student and the first from the Tech Center — will take part in the FFA National Convention in Indianapolis, where she will present her project. It focuses on her conservation and environmental work at the Claycomb Ecology Conservation Center at Coal Canoe Base, a Scouting camp in Alger, Michigan.
Because the proficiency award is based on a job or research project, Adison said she realized she could use her role as conservation director to qualify. In that role, she performed tasks such as trail maintenance, fence installation, pollution cleanup and invasive species removal, and helped other students earn badges in conservation.
“I just felt that what I did there was a good reflection of who I am, what my goals are and what I am passionate about,” she said.
‘I can’t imagine working anywhere where I’m not outside or helping the environment.’
— Rockford senior Adison Sturm
Finding Her Path
The Scouting camp is where Adison first discovered her passion for the environment.
“I thought I was going to go into fine arts, but as soon as I started going to summer camp and monthly campouts, I realized I didn’t want to do that,” she said. “I just wanted to keep going back.”
It was a natural fit for Adison, a senior at Rockford Public Schools who grew up in that area. She also spent much of her time on her grandfather’s farm, she said, where her love for the outdoors grew.
It was through the Tech Center’s agriscience program that Adison learned how to turn that passion into a career.
“Taking this class has helped me see people who do this as a job and the different areas within agriscience, agriculture and environmental work.”
Adison said she enjoyed learning about landscaping, which helped expand her knowledge — especially plant identification — as she prepares to attend Michigan Technological University in the fall to study wildlife ecology and conservation.
Because she comes from a family of teachers, Adison said she would like to pursue environmental education, whether in a school setting or through outreach programs.
“I would also like to get experience wherever I can, whether that’s working for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Department of Natural Resources or the national parks,” she said. “I don’t have one definite path. I have a lot of steps I want to take, and when an opportunity presents itself, I want to take it.”
Not Missing Her Shot
Adison has learned to seize opportunities through FFA. That approach led to her earning the state-level FFA Outstanding Junior Award last year, which honors high-school juniors for excellence in leadership, community service and agricultural experience. She was the first Tech Center student to receive the award.
This year, three Tech Center students — Northview’s Emmanuel Gonzalez, Covenant Christian’s Anna Hassevoort and South Christian’s Samantha Wigger — earned that same award.
It was the first year the Tech Center has had several students attend the State Convention, Adison said, a big leap from last year, when only a handful of students participated.
She said she is proud to have helped grow the Tech Center’s FFA program over the past two years, and seeing more students get involved and build on the success she and others have achieved.
Among the other awards the Tech Center students received was the state FFA’s highest award, the Michigan FFA State Degree, to Adison, Jeff Boyd and Nicole Smith, both homeschooled; Claire Chapin, from Byron Center; Meg Middlestadt, from West Michigan Aviation Academy; and Kailynn Skinner, Lillian Thorpe and Tiana Tubbs, all from Cedar Springs.
Receiving the FFA Academic Excellence Award were Adison, Meg Middlestadt and Noelle Smith, who both earned gold awards; and Max Morris, from Cedar Springs, who earned a silver award.
Read more from Kent ISD:
• FFA students deliver dairy good presentation
• Tech Center students start new tradition with butterfly release
