Five students from the De La Salle Collegiate SAVE Club (Students Against Vandalizing the Environment) recently participated in a week-long project to improve the appearance of a small area surrounding the Kelly Baseball Field sign. 

Under the direction of Nina Jacks, the SAVE Club Moderator, seniors Tyler Gerling, Suheum Heo and Quinn McIntyre, along with juniors Minseok Bae and Woohyun Kim, completed the project over several days -- putting in time both at the end of the school day and after school. 

Br. Robert Deary helped students formulate their plans to improve the sign’s visibility -- it had been blocked by tall plants -- and improve the aesthetics of the surrounding landscape.

The students researched ideal plants for the area, and drew up sketches and budget plans. Then, they removed all of the existing plants and weeds surrounding the sign, and added new fertile soil. 

The group relocated plants at the site, that were originally from the De La Salle Christian Brothers’ home on Gloede Dr. in Warren, a gravesite at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, where several brothers are buried, and a faculty member’s home. 

Heo and Bae solicited two Home Depot locations, hoping for $50 coupons to help fund the project. 

But, they instead received two coupons, enabling the SAVE group to afford additional bags of soil, mulch, flowering plants and two shrubs. 

DLS administrative assistant Sandy Carra also made a generous donation to the group. 

John Debczak, head of maintenance at DLS, is currently repairing the sign, which had shown signs of age. 

“Everyone involved felt a sense of accomplishment, and looks forward to seeing the plants mature into a finished project,” Bae said.