Purdue Polytechnic High School Students Explore HLA Programs and Gardens

October 9, 2026

Two visitors lean over a garden bed to examine plants along a brick pathway, surrounded by pink and blue flowering plants and lush greenery.

On Oct. 2, 14 students and one adult from Purdue Polytechnic High School, accompanied by Zac Brown, assistant director of the Office of Academic Programs, visited the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture as part of a broader campus visit.

During their time in HLA, students were introduced to Landscape Architecture by Sean Rotar and toured a landscape architecture studio. They also met with HLA Ambassadors, who shared why they chose Purdue and discussed their academic experiences and plans of study.

The group then met with Vicki Stirm and Kathryn Orvis to learn more about opportunities within horticulture. Their visit concluded with a scavenger hunt in the Jules Janick Horticulture Garden, where students explored a variety of plants and learned more about landscape design and plant selection.

The visit provided students with a hands-on look at HLA programs and careers, and the group enjoyed an engaging and informative experience.

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