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Program Spreads Its Roots At USF

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By LENORA LAKE, Tribune correspondent

Published: October 13, 2007

TAMPA - Karen Anrriguez, a 19-year-old University of South Florida sophomore, says her mother calls her for advice about plants.

That's because Anrriguez is in her second year as a work-study student at the University of South Florida Botanical Gardens.

Work-study programs are a requirement of some college financial aid packages. The students have part-time, on-campus jobs in administrative offices or other facilities, or off-campus jobs such as tutoring.

'We pot plants, water, weed, fertilize, move plants, unload orders,' said Anrriguez, a biology major from Kissimmee. 'We've learned a lot. My mom is asking me what to do with certain plants.'

The gardens' five work-study students also will assist with the 17th annual Fall Plant Festival, set for today and Sunday at the gardens. They will help set up and assist customers in the gardens' plant shop.

The event, which raises money for the nonprofit gardens, includes more than 50 booths featuring local clubs and commercial growers with plants for sale and plant workshops.

Students who are offered jobs through the work-study program can look at a list and apply for specific positions. There were almost 1,000 students in the program last year earning $2.4 million on all the USF campuses, according to information provided by the USF financial aid department. The 2007-08 budget for the program is about $3.3 million.

Angel Miller, 18, a freshman from Daytona Beach, said she applied for a position at the gardens because she thought 'it looked interesting' and she likes to be outside.

'All the other jobs were clerical positions, and this is the only job that stuck out,' the biomedical sciences student said.

Kim Hutton, the gardens' special events manager, who oversees the work-study program students, said: 'They are such a lifesaver for us. They are great, and this is a particularly good group.' Hutton, who was a work-study student at the gardens 10 years ago, said the gardens have limited funding for staff and rely on the students and volunteers.

It also is a business-learning experience for the students, who get a paycheck instead of the money going directly into their financial aid account.

'This is a real job. They have a designed time to come in and are told to call me if they are not coming in,' Hutton said. 'They work when they are here; they do not study.'

However, Hutton said, there is flexibility with the job. 'The most important thing is school,' she said. 'We can work around an exam, a paper that is due, just as long as they let me know ahead.'

Work-study student Greg Wance, 18, a freshman from New Jersey, said the position has given him insight into Florida's climate and its landscaping.

'I have a garden at my home in New Jersey, but it is different plants here,' said Wance, an environmental science and policy student.

'There are a lot more tropical plants here,' he said, adding that bromeliads are his favorite.

This weekend's sale will include bromeliads, orchids, African violets, begonias, cactus, palms and ferns.

'We've got a really incredible selection of ferns and native plants,' said Laurie Walker, director of the gardens.

For first time at the festival, live jazz will be presented from noon to 2 p.m. Sunday in the pavilion.

The Tampa Tribune is among the festival sponsors.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Fall Plant Festival

WHEN: From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday

WHERE: University of South Florida Botanical Gardens, at Pine and Alumni drives

HOW MUCH: $4 for ages 12 and older, free for ages 11 and younger

INFORMATION: Call (813) 974-2329 or visit www.cas.usf.edu/garden.

Correspondent Lenora Lake can be reached at (813) 865-4851 or llake@tampatrib.com.

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