The trees are part of a Remembrance Garden that will take shape on a site near the tennis courts on the high school grounds. The spot chosen for the garden was peaceful on Tuesday’s spring morning, with only the sound of a woodpecker in the woods adjacent to the site. Some of Max’s classmates and fellow football players gathered there to see the first phase of their plans begin.

The senior class chose the garden as their class project and designed it to not only honor Engle, but other students who have passed or those who might pass in the future.

“We really wanted to have something around the school to remember Max, you know? I think this is something that not only we can share to remember him, but also the younger kids and students coming up and also the community. It’s going to be public and open,” said class treasurer Celia Shemory.

Classmates of Max Engle plant one of four trees at the remembrance garden near Jersey Shore High School. The garden is a project by the senior class. The class raised funds for park. remembrance garden, not just in memory of Max but for anyone from the class that have passed away. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

“We wanted to do that for him and the family,” she added.

Liam Samar had known Max since they were 3 or 4 years old. They had been neighbors and spent time fishing and hanging out, doing what Samar called “dumb crap” all the time. It was difficult for him to speak about his longtime friend, but he knew Max would have loved to see everyone getting together and creating the garden.

“It’s pretty cool and definitely worth it. I think he would love it and his parents definitely appreciate it,” Samar said.

Max’s mom and dad, Heather and Josh Engle, were also part of the group assembled to watch the genesis of the garden.

“It’s hard to find the words. It’s very touching,” Heather said, the emotion of the moment evident in her voice.

Classmates of Max Engle plant one of four trees at the remembrance garden near Jersey Shore High School. The garden is a project by the senior class. The class raised funds for park. remembrance garden, not just in memory of Max but for anyone from the class that have passed away. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

“We’re just so grateful for all the support and the love when the communities come together. I’m so amazed by these kids and their resilience. You know, Max was always about getting his friends together, doing campfires with his friends and just having a space for getting together, listening to music and hanging out,” she said.

“This is perfect, having the space for them to come when they want to spend time with each other and talk to him, and so we think it’s just a beautiful idea. And we’re so grateful for everyone involved — the community that is donating, the people that are doing the physical work,” Heather added.

Senior class adviser Michele Persun said that the idea for the garden started when the students decided they wanted to honor Max when he was in the hospital.

“So our first original idea was just to do a little landscaping area, maybe with four trees, because Max’s number was four, and the number four resonated with the community and the students,” Persun said.

But the response in terms of donations was so great that the project grew.

Classmates of Max Engle plant one of four trees at the remembrance garden near Jersey Shore High School. The garden is a project by the senior class. The class raised funds for park. remembrance garden, not just in memory of Max but for anyone from the class that have passed away. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

“We ended up being able to do so much more than what I had originally planned out to be, which is exciting. And then they turned it into a remembrance garden to be not just for Max, but for any student community member that would like a space,” Persun said.

The Jersey Shore students enlisted the help of Pennsylvania College of Technology (Penn College) students in the horticulture/landscaping program and assistant professor Dr. Michael Dincher, who designed the garden.

“We’re fortunate enough to have the Penn College landscaping design crew and professor to be helping us,” Persun said.

Dincher and his students designed the garden with some input from Jersey Shore’s senior class members.

The trees that were being planted Tuesday were sour gum, which Dincher said Engle’s classmates had chosen because they turn a brilliant orange in the fall.

Heather Engle watches as classmates of her son Max plant 4 trees at the remembrance garden near Jersey Shore High School. The garden is a project by the senior class. The class raised funds for park. remembrance garden, not just in memory of Max but for anyone from the class that have passed away. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

“The reason they put four in is because that was Max’s number,” Dincher said.

His landscape construction students wanted to get the trees planted this year because their semester is ending.

“We’re not going to be able to do any of this until next year,” he said, referring to making pathways and other work.

The students are doing the work as part of their course of study.

“As an instructor, I am always looking for opportunities for live work,” Dincher said.

Josh and Heather Engle help to plant one of four trees in memory of their son Max Engle at the remembrance garden near Jersey Shore High School. The garden is a project by the senior class. The class raised funds for park. remembrance garden, not just in memory of Max but for anyone from the class that have passed away. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

“Ever since I’ve been teaching this class, I’ve always looked for projects like this instead of working in the lab where you set it up and tear it down, because students don’t engage. They want to be stakeholders. They want to build something permanent,” he added.

Phase two of the garden is set to begin next January with the paved walkway and bench stone seating being constructed. Then, in April or May, the Jersey Shore seniors who will graduate this year will be back to do more work on the garden, Persun said.

The students were also responsible for the fundraising to finance the work at the garden.

“If people are interested in donating, they’re more than welcome to, because this is a project that’s going to be here forever and we have to provide a memorial fund that’s going to sustain the project for a multitude of years,” Persun said.

Four trees are planted memory of Max Engle at the remembrance garden near Jersey Shore High School. The garden is a project by the senior class. The class raised funds for park. remembrance garden, not just in memory of Max but for anyone from the class that have passed away. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Josh and Heather Engle talk with Michele Persun, senior class advisor class of 2024, as work begins to plant 4 trees in memory of Max Engle at the remembrance garden near Jersey Shore High School. The garden is a project by the senior class. The class raised funds for park. remembrance garden, not just in memory of Max but for anyone from the class that have passed away. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette