40 High School Students Selected for Baltimore's Conservation Leadership Corps

Johnson Controls, the Student Conservation Association (SCA) and Civic Works today announced the 40 high school students who will join Baltimore’s Conservation Leadership Corps. The program, launched in April in conjunction with Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon, provides meaningful summer jobs in conservation and leadership development to Baltimore youth. Kai Jackson, an anchor of WJZ 13’s Eyewitness News program and an active community volunteer, congratulated the students, along with Rich Mayhew, vice president and general manager for Mid-Atlantic Region, Johnson Controls. The Conservation Leadership Corps recruited the 40 high school students from diverse backgrounds and from among more than 125 applications. The students will be led by nine crew leaders whose range of backgrounds includes science and art education and strong outdoor experience. The crew leaders will train and work with the students on a variety of conservation projects in Baltimore parks. "We are excited to be able to provide these students with rich learning experiences this summer that will be beneficial to their future careers, the community and to the environment,” said Rich Mayhew of Johnson Controls, a Fortune 100 company that creates smart environments for vehicles, homes and workplaces. "This program fits perfectly with our commitment to the community. We are dedicated to promoting leadership skills and environmental stewardship among today’s youth.” Students will undergo a one-week job readiness class at the end of June, followed by six weeks’ work in the parks starting the first week of July through mid-August. Sites for park projects include large parks and small community pocket parks including Cylburn Arboretum Herring Run Park, Leakin Park, Clifton Park, Druid Hill Jones Falls Trail, More's Run Park, and Potee St/Reedbird Park Middle Branch. Participants will work on assignments such as building and maintaining trails, repairing damages to trails caused by erosion and restoring habitats. Students from more than 20 schools were selected to participate in the program. They are: Name School Name School Justin Means Baltimore Freedom Academy Heather Munson Dundalk Troy Morgan Baltimore Freedom Academy Latia Stokes Forest Park Jarrell Eldridge Baltimore Talent Development Michael McDaniel Heritage Kendall Johnson Baltimore Talent Development Marquel Kiah Mervo Rochelle Johnson Baltimore Talent Development Antika Howell National Academy Foundation Maurice Byers Cardinal Gibbons Jovan Marks National Academy Foundation Lenora Morris Carver Vocational Technical Eboni Thompson New Era Academy Christopher Wright Carver Vocational Technical Derek Fields Patterson Ambrosia Green Catholic H.S. of Baltimore Ronnie Chapman Polytechnic Aaron Chever City College Darrin Gray Soughtout Redeemed Christian Ikea Crawford City College Kiera Kearney Southwestern H.S. Christopher Clay Digital Harbor Geoffrey Wilkes Towson Quantrell Curton Digital Harbor Jessica Brown W.E.B. Dubois Kanesha Greene Digital Harbor Rob Cross W.E.B. DuBois Michael Bouldin Dr. Carter G. Woodson Middle Adjana Ramirez W.E.B. Dubois Emmanuel Covington Dr. Carter G. Woodson Middle Rashida Rivera W.E.B. Dubois Caesar Rice, Jr. Dr. Carter G. Woodson Middle Eleese Taylor W.E.B. DuBois Demetrius Walker Dr. Carter G. Woodson Middle Terrance Owens Walbrook Ariel Thomas Dunbar Isherra Muse Western Jermon Alston Dundalk Raeshawna Pearson Western Tech Baltimore is the second of three pilot cities where Johnson Controls has launched the summer job program. The first pilot kicked off in 2006 in Milwaukee, where Johnson Controls has its global headquarters. In that program, 100 percent of the student workers completed the program and nearly 40 percent recorded perfect attendance. Johnson Controls continues to sponsor the Milwaukee Conservation Leadership Corps this year, which will be held concurrent to the Baltimore program. Student Conservation Association (SCA) and Civic Works will administer Baltimore’s CLC program. The SCA is a nationwide organization that gives high school and college-age students practical conservation experience. Civic Works is a leading nonprofit youth service corps in Baltimore. About Johnson Controls Johnson Controls is a global leader in automotive interior experience, building efficiency and power solutions. The company provides innovative automobile interiors that help make driving more comfortable, safe and enjoyable. For buildings, it offers products and services that optimize energy use and improve comfort and security. Johnson Controls also provides batteries for automobiles and hybrid electric vehicles, along with systems engineering and service expertise. Johnson Controls (NYSE:JCI) has 136,000 employees in more than 1,000 locations serving customers within 125 countries. Founded in 1885, the company is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. For additional information, please visit http://johnsoncontrols.com. About Student Conservation Association The Student Conservation Association (SCA) is a nationwide conservation force of college and high school volunteers who protect and restore America’s parks, forests and other public lands. For nearly 50 years, SCA’s active, hand-on approach to conservation has helped to develop a new generation of conservation leaders, inspire lifelong stewardship, and save our planet. About Civic Works Civic Works, Baltimore's nonprofit community youth and service corps, provides critical services throughout the Baltimore area. Founded in 1993, Civic Works fosters individual growth and development in its corps members through team-based service projects in tutoring, community beautification, home re-building and workforce training.