The Essential skills class at DCHS has been working on a very special project for a once very special student. Michael Torres was a student that attended Delphi Community High School until February of 2019 when he was taken from us by osteosarcoma also known as bone cancer. The essential skills class planted a garden in remembrance of him consisting of two troves filled with various plants such as tomatoes, green peppers, jalapenos, cilantro, and strawberry plants. The raised bed design allows for lesser able students to reach the garden and to tend to it as equally as the other.

 The school has multiple memorials and remembrances set up around campus for various people who unfortunately passed but none for Michael. The inspiration of this project came from Mrs. Wagler, stating “There was nothing yet to remember him and I just wanted to make sure he was remembered.”

Though the inspiration came from a local teacher the project could have never been accomplished without the generous donations of fellow community members. The garden began with two troves donated by Mr. Schwartzhoff, a member of the school board; Mrs. Shifflet, DCHS vice-principal, donating the topsoil; Mr. Walker, a teacher in the ag department of DCHS, donated the mulch to allow an adequate living space for the plants; Mrs. Pickering, who teaches the printing based classes, donated the plaque; and Mr. Beal is a substitute teacher here at DCHS who donated his time over the summer watering the garden.

Michael enjoyed various things such as Purdue and football. Michael loved to talk about football with the previous head football coach Mr. Strasser. He was 17 years old when he succumbed to his illness. Although he is no longer with us here, his memory will never be forgotten thanks to the generosity and selflessness of the people in this community.