Kenneth Price: Morning student commencement speaker
The Pointer
mbaum925@uwsp.edu
“If a tree falls in the woods, will there be anyone there to hear it?” No one may be there to hear it, but starting this summer, there will be someone there to pick it up thanks to Kenneth Price.
Graduating senior Price chose the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point because of its reputation as one of the best forestry and natural resource universities in the nation.
“I grew up logging with horses with my father and that has fueled my passion for forestry, but I earned my degree from UW-Madison in animal science before I realized that I really wanted to be a forester and came to UW-SP,” said Price.
To that end, Price majored in forestry administration and utilization in addition to forestry management. He also minored in soil science and business administration.
Price has much compassion for future generations and their sustainability.
“I wish to work for private landowners who have trees/forested land. I will help them to manage their trees and forests in a sustainable manner to ensure that they and future generations will be able to enjoy the benefits of those trees and forests for years to come,” said Price.
In preparation for these future aspirations, Price has gleaned information from professors such as Dr. Les Werner.
“He displays an abundance of enthusiasm for learning and enjoying life. He has always pushed me, and all his students, to excel and be responsible for my own learning and applying that to my life. He has been a great source of advice and guidance,” said Price.
Also to nurture his growth and experience, Price has been a member of The Society of American Foresters and the UW-SP Fire Crew. These organizations participate in tree planting, chain saw safety classes, pulp cutting, timber sports competitions, wildfire suppression and suppressed burnings with a great number of activities above and beyond these.
Within these organizations, Price has met a lot of people and made a lot of friends. Through tours, guest speakers and networking with professionals at national conventions, in addition to serving as SAF president for two years, Price has learned a lot about forestry.
“This helped me to develop my leadership abilities and taught me a great deal about working with other people. I gained valuable experience in organizing a group of people and making sure their needs and desires were met by the organization,” said Price.
Price hopes that graduates take from his speech that it is important to never miss an opportunity to learn and to never believe that there is nothing more you can learn about something, no matter how long you have studied it.
After graduation, Price will be working for First Choice Tree Care out of Junction City, Wis, as an arborist caring for trees in urban areas and near houses.
