Fountain, Colo. (May 22, 2019) — Fountain-Fort Carson High School senior has a passion for the outdoors, agriculture, and making the world a better place. That’s why, on Thursday, May 23, 2019 at 12:30 p.m., the school and district will cut the ribbon on a Memorial Garden she has led and been instrumental in installing. The Memorial Garden is located in front of the school at 900 Jimmy Camp Road.

Originally, the FFCHS Memorial Garden originated as an idea by Rachel to install a small rose garden. When the project was presented to the Fountain-Fort Carson School District 8 Director of Facilities Chris Mitchell, he showed an overwhelming amount of support and provided ideas and opportunities to create a much larger, and more meaningful, memorial garden. The concept of a small rose garden then grew into this impactful project, where Rachel has been able to explore her passion for gardening, agriculture and sustainability, all while giving back to the community. The garden will honor men and women in all branches of the armed services.

Rachel has not only coordinated multiple FFC8 district departments, she has also included and involved the community and gathered hundreds of dollars of donations to make the garden possible. Donors include Home Depot, Lowe’s, Spencer’s Lawn and Garden, Brightview Landscaping, Phelan Gardens, Weisburg Landscape Maintenance, C&C Sand and Stone, Rockytop Resources and more! As a result of their generosity, the majority of plant and landscape material for the Memorial Garden will be donated. She has also worked incredibly hard to involved students throughout the phases of her project. JROTC and other students and groups have volunteered countless man-hours in preparing the ground and planting.

Many students, veterans, business representatives and school and district staff will be in attendance for the Ribbon Cutting. Rachel will be available for interviews and introductions.