May/June 2014 | 9
Putting Knowledge
to Work
M
ike DiGiacomo had to stand still for
approximately 10 seconds—a moment
that felt like 10 minutes—before accepting his
award at the DITS Banquet in February.
"No way," was all he could think to say.
And when he finally mustered the realization
he had indeed earned recognition, DiGiacomo
ran right up to the front of the room and
embraced R.J. Laverne in a great, big bear hug.
DiGiacomo, trimmer at Davey's North
Pittsburgh R/C office, is the very first recipient
of the DITS Faculty Award, which recognizes
a student who particularly impresses instructors
throughout the entire four weeks of training.
"I was shocked; totally shocked," DiGiacomo
says. "It really caught me off-guard, but I
was thrilled."
Just as he arrived to DITS, ready to give
it his all, DiGiacomo showed up to class
early every day and often stayed late. "My
face was in my books 24/7, for almost the
whole month," he says.
After learning so much during a relatively
short period of time, it's difficult for
DiGiacomo to pinpoint the most helpful
knowledge he gained during the experience.
"I've never before received training like DITS,"
he says. "I'm still working through it now,
but being a climber, the different climbing
techniques we learned will be helpful to me
in the field. My eyes are more open now;
I see things more clearly. And it's a great
feeling to put that knowledge to work."
But what impressed DiGiacomo the most
during the program was how everyone—
instructors and students included—went
out of their ways to help others when
needed. "Everybody was great, really kind
and knowledgeable," he says. "I learned
from the other students just as much as I
did from the instructors. People bent over
backwards to help."
Chris Gill (left) and Seth Stygar
work in the indoor forest.
Aleksi Aleksiev and Darrin Salvador
(pictured left to right) work together
on a rope tying exercise.
Logan Keck (right) presents the 2014 DITS
class T-shirt, including an image of Laverne's
face, which reads, "Keep calm and DITS on."
Mitch Bauer collects data
from trees during an out-
door DITS training session.
Laverne welcomes a big hug from
Mike DiGiacomo, winner of the
inaugural Faculty Award. DiGiacomo
was ever so touched to be recognized.
Enthusiasm at its finest!
