Caleb Horvath is a part-time groundskeeper employee and a WCC student studying audio engineering. Horvath said that he enjoys working as a groundskeeper and being able to get his hands dirty while working. Courtney Prielipp | The Washtenaw Voice
Beck Elandt | Staff Writer
When we see someone driving on a college campus in a small, orange vehicle, there’s little cause for alarm, unless it is filled with a bunch of rambunctious teenagers. Most of the time, however, this is a groundskeeper. It’s consistent that many outdoor workers at WCC have found a niche beyond groundskeeping; a duty in quietly supporting the campus.
Ron Schulz is a groundskeeper who has worked for 38 years at WCC’s campus. His first memories of groundskeeping are working with his grandfather and “making things look nice” on their own property.
When asked about what students might overlook regarding groundskeepers’ duties, Schulz had a clear answer:
“We are kind of our own mini security department, because we’re always outside and we see everything, so we help everybody,” he said. While the present-day campus sees little trouble, Schulz believes this is partly due to their presence.
“We are constantly on trash, even all around the outside. You don’t see junk, and that’s what makes this college pretty,” Schulz said.
From Huron River Drive to Clark Road, the department covers as much area as they feel necessary. The first task each morning is to clean each parking lot and dispose of trash properly.
Now that spring is in the air, you might see groundskeepers cleaning up flower beds, removing felled branches and trees, planting flowers and giving the grounds what they need to flourish for the rest of 2025.
Schulz loves being outside and feels a strong connection to the outdoors through his occupation. He certainly doesn’t mind the work.
“People like spring, I really don’t,” said Schulz, referring to the weather. “It’s too muddy.”
While driving through the WCC nature trail, Schulz pointed out several native species, referring to the campus as a “zoo” due to the variety of habitats. Towards the end of our drive through the forest, the muddiness Schulz despised manifested on the brim of a steep hill. After about 6-7 tries, Schulz managed the utility vehicle out of the trail, not without some serious reckoning.
To fully grasp the scope of groundskeeping, Holly Herman, the landscape grounds manager, said it’s easier to list the things they don’t do.
“We do everything outside,” said Herman. The only exception is electrical and utility systems like lighting and plumbing.
Almost everywhere else, a groundskeeper has made their mark.
Ron Schulz, a full-time WCC employee, cleans up trash from the WCC nature trail near the pond. Shulz has been working for WCC for 38 years and often cleans up the trash around campus. Beck Elandt | The Washtenaw Voice
Caleb Horvath uses a pitchfork to clean up the leftover edges of the garden. The WCC groundskeepers do a lot around the campus grounds such as planting, maintenance of the ground, bedding design and even moving snow. Courtney Prielipp | The Washtenaw Voice
Editor’s note: On April 15, 2025, this article was updated to correct the spelling of the name “Schulz.”
