Creating more than a memorial

Lawrence High School science teacher and Environmental Club advisor Adam Forman has been working for at the past four years to transform the school’s once empty courtyard into one with a greenhouse and memorial trees to remember those who died within the school community.

“I’m elated,” he said. “It’s exciting to see something that’s been stirring for the last couple of years to come to fruition. It’s great.”

To propel Forman’s efforts, the high school’s Student Government Association donated nearly $11,000 to purchase a greenhouse for the courtyard where herbs and annual plants will be grown, according to Forman.

Planting memorial trees is a tradition in the district to remember those who were once apart of the Lawrence High School community and are now deceased. Currently, three trees dot the courtyard. They are in memory of former special education teacher Dave Kerner, as well as former students Crystal Gayle and Uryan Rampersaud, who were both 17 when they died. Rampersaud died last December.

Senior Julie Rosen and junior Rachel Klein like the peaceful environment and memorial aspect of planting trees to remember their friend, Rampersaud. “It’s beautiful and full of life and that’s how we want to remember him,” Klein said about the coral bark Japanese maple tree that was donated by Steven Addona, a former Lawrence student and owner of Steven Addona Landscaping.

Various sculptures will also accompany the memorial trees in the school’s courtyard. Seniors Brandon Helicher and Kevin Martz are creating a sculpture inspired by their favorite video game, Skyrim. “It will be about three feet tall and there will be a waterfall inside it to water the plants in the greenhouse,” Helicher said. “I like that we’re able to leave something here for the memorial so a lot of other people can see it.”

Junior Alex Gonzalez helped plan and execute an organically shaped path that leads to Rampersaud’s tree. “A straight path wouldn’t have been enough, we wanted it to be unique,” he said.

Though there is still much to be done in the courtyard, Forman and ceramics teacher, Rob Verone, are hoping to have it completed by the last day of school on June 11. “It’s been a great evolution to see what it was then and what it is now,” Verone said. “Also, to see the kids level of involvement. They’ve taken true ownership for what’s here.”

Forman said he is excited to see the courtyard finished. “We have to make this happen now because we have a financial investment to get this project completed,” he said. “This is something I’ve been talking with the Environmental Club about for years and it’s nice that the seniors can leave something behind.”