Harley Heichel

2015 | Horace M. Thayer Scholarship

Education: Pennsylvania College of Technology

Pursued Degree: Forest Technology

Expected to graduate:  May 2016

I grew up in Wellsboro, PA. Ever since I was young I have wanted to have a career where I was outdoors. My dad was a logger and drove log trucks; sometimes he would take me out and show me where he worked and let me tag along in the log truck. Growing up in the rural area and with a dad that worked in the logging industry, I hoped that I could someday also work in the woods. I loved spending time in nature. I first became interested in a career in Forestry when I assisted the Game Commission at our local bear check-in station. My senior year in high school I was fortunate enough to participate in the school-to-work program at Wellsboro High School and job shadow some of the foresters at the Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry, District 16. I was also able to shadow a female forester, which made me realize that even though I am a girl, I can be a forester. By doing this, I learned many different things that a forester does each day. We marked timber for sale, saw an active timber sale, did landscape reviews and much more.

I also began dancing at the age of two at First Position Dance Studio. I danced all through high school and now I am dancing on the Penn College dance team. I am very fortunate to be back with the Bureau of Forestry this summer for an internship.