While campus tends to be quieter during the summer months, a meaningful and vibrant project is taking root at Rosemont: the creation of the Patrick Herman Memorial Community Garden.
Named in honor of Patrick Herman-Rosemont’s beloved mailroom coordinator who passed away in February- the garden celebrates his passion for gardening and his deep-rooted connection to the College community.
On June 16, faculty and staff volunteers gathered alongside members of Pat’s family to plant the first seedlings. The garden now features a colorful mix of eggplant, herbs, peppers, tomatoes, and watermelon- fruits and vegetables Pat himself once generously shared from his own garden.
The garden’s care is being overseen this summer by Madison Faith Lauffer, Director of Student Engagement, and Gerard Regan, Assistant Director and Information Literacy Librarian at the Gertrude Kistler Memorial Library, through a newly launched Summer Stewards Program. The program coordinates watering, weeding, and maintenance until students return in August. Once the fall semester begins, members of Rosegrow, Rosemont’s environmental club, will take the lead in continuing Pat’s legacy.
“I was inspired by Pat and got reinvigorated to begin gardening again,” said Regan. “He used to bring in so many tomatoes and peppers to share with the Rosemont community. It feels great to honor him with this garden on campus.”
“We’re organizing a watering schedule and showing staff volunteers how to care for the garden so it stays healthy all summer,” added Lauffer. “We’re also going to add deer fencing and plan a second round of planting in the coming weeks.”
In addition to the plants, the garden will eventually feature another special tribute: the bicycle Pat famously rode through campus as he delivered mail will be installed in the garden as a lasting commemoration.
Stay tuned throughout the summer for more updates on this beautiful campus transformation!
The Rosemont Experience
At Rosemont, we believe that no matter what discipline you study, effective communication and problem solving are cornerstones to success. That’s why students take classes across multiple disciplines—to learn to approach complex situations from multiple angles. We also recognize the importance of real world experience in preparing you for a career. In fact, every student engages in at least one internship, volunteer effort, or service learning opportunity.
In the Heart of Suburban Philadelphia's Iconic Main Line
- Beautiful 58 acre Main Line campus located in serene suburban Philadelphia.
- Access to world class advanced degree programs through exclusive partnerships.
- Rooted in Catholicism we welcome all faiths and beliefs.
- 14 NCAA Division III men’s and women’s sports teams.
- Coveted 11:1 student to faculty ratio providing an unparalleled educational experience.
- An average class size of 13 ensures a high caliber, personalized education.
