| |
Kayla Higgins, Jordan, Montana Field Office: National Earth Team
Individual Award Winner
Kayla Higgins, Jordan, Montana Field
Office (NRCS photo) |
Being an Earth Team Volunteer was Kayla’s first job. She began
volunteering in August of 2006, the beginning of her senior year of high
school. Since then, she has proven to be an invaluable member of the
Jordan Field Office team.
Kayla completes general office tasks, including managing postal
supplies, making address labels, answering phones, taking messages, and
greeting customers. But what really makes Kayla invaluable is her
ability to develop conservation plan maps in ArcMap, saving NRCS employees’ time and providing a quality product to
NRCS customers. “Leaning ArcMap has been my biggest challenge,"
said Kayla. "I’d never seen an aerial photo or topographic map
before. Now I use them all the time and even understand the land survey
system.” Kayla is also capable of checking and entering data in ProTracts, PRS, and Customer Service Toolkit.
“I like the work and the accessibility. I’ve been able to improve my
office skills and learn new ones. Working with the other employees and
the producers in the office is a real treat.”
Kayla Higgins, Earth Team Volunteer
|
NRCS customers have
commented on Kayla's professionalism and on how nice it is to have
someone who is always in the office instead of being greeted by a closed door
with a note.
Kayla does all this even though she has Osteogenesis imperfecta or
brittle bone disease. Kayla is two and a half feet tall and motors
around in an electric chair.
“We’ve come to count on Kayla," said Jordan Field Office District
Conservationist Sue FitzGerald. "She takes care of a
lot of our data entry workload as well as general office
tasks—photocopying, developing mailing labels, answering the phone . . .
the list goes on.”
When asked why she keeps coming back, Kayla stated, “I like the work and
the accessibility. I’ve been able to improve my office skills and
learn new ones. Working with the other employees and producers in the
office is a real treat.”
Kayla encourages others to volunteer through the Earth Team Program.
“It’s been a great experience for me. Completing the work I have
accomplished for the NRCS feels really good because I know I’m helping
others." | |
|