IASC NEXT Career Pathways Teacher Spotlight
Natasha Orhn, Agriculture and Natural Resources teacher for Greenway High School and FFA advisor, has been involved in IASC NEXT Natural Resources Career Pathway since the Fall of 2018. When she started teaching at Greenway and heard about Career Pathways, she was happy to jump in and help develop the program. She has worked with teachers in Deer River and Grand Rapids to develop a pathway that fits the needs of the changing Natural Resources Industry. Students in her classes have the opportunity to gain hands-on experiences through field trips, career development events and many labs.
Natasha hopes to continue growing and strengthening the Natural Resource Pathway at Greenway and the entire IASC area. She has had the opportunity of seeing kids go through the program and then start their college education. Many students have come back and expressed how helpful the connections they made through her class and field trips. Natasha is excited to see the program grow and develop to meet the needs of our community and industry.
IASC NEXT Career Pathways Student Spotlight
Athena Olson began her Natural Resources Career Pathway as a ninth grader at Greenway High School. She is currently in her second year of the program and plans to continue it through her senior year. Athena got her first experience for agriculture classes in Mrs. Orhn’s Exploratory Ag Science class in 7th and 8th grade. Athena’s family has a small hobby farm and her family owns an excavating company. She has a family history of agriculture and FFA and knew she wanted to participate in FFA and the Natural Resources Career Pathway.
Athena is the current FFA president of the Greenway FFA chapter. She has had the opportunity to compete in numerous soil contests and will be advancing to the State FFA Soils Contests in April. Through Career Pathways, Athena was able to share her love for soil with students in fifth through eighth grade, last year at the Greenway Middle School Career Day. She used an edible soil horizon to teach the students about the importance of soil and each of the layers’ properties. Athena was able to attend the Future Forest Stewards Event in Grand Rapids and learn about the career opportunities in Natural Resources.
Athena hopes to gain skills in Natural Resources as she continues her high school journey. Upon completion of high school, she is not positive what she wants to do but hopes to attend some form of training in Natural Resources or Plant Science or work with her family in the excavating company. She is thankful for the opportunities that Career Pathways has given her and can not wait to see what the future holds for her.