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Former dropout succeeds

After overcoming many hurdles Mountain View student Waylon Harness has kept at least a 3.0 grade-point average. He talked about his future plans of opening a landscaping business. (Kathy Plonka / The Spokesman-Review)
Sherry Ramsey Correspondent
After overcoming many hurdles Mountain View student Waylon Harness has kept at least a 3.0 grade-point average. He talked about his future plans of opening a landscaping business. (Kathy Plonka / The Spokesman-Review)

Waylon Harness makes things happen when it counts. After dropping out of school several years ago, his girlfriend encouraged him to try Mountain View Alternative School.

It turned out to be one of the best decisions he’s ever made. Entering his junior year with only six credits, Harness was able to focus on his school work and earn the credits he needed to graduate on time.

“Since Waylon has attended Mountain View, he’s been a model student,” said school administrator John Klingaman. “He’s been on the honor roll almost every quarter and kept at least a 3.0 grade-point average. He’s also held a job the entire time.”

Harness was one of three captains on the Lakeland lacrosse team this year and was honored with the midfielder all-star award.

“I hadn’t even heard of lacrosse until last year,” Harness said. “A couple of kids who go to school here played, and they got me into it.”

Harness also plays softball on an adult co-ed team. An outdoors type of guy, he likes to backpack into lakes with friends, run, lift weights and hang out at the beach.

For the past three years, Harness has worked at R & J Landscaping and Sprinkler in Coeur d’Alene.

“When I dropped out of Post Falls (High School) I got a job drywalling, but didn’t really like that a whole lot,” he said. “A buddy of mine told me his uncle was hiring at his landscape business. I’ve been working with them ever since.”

At 18, Harness is experienced in installing automatic sprinklers, planting trees, laying bark and every other aspect of landscaping, both residential and commercial. He was promoted to foreman of a lawn crew last year. Between his job and talking to people at the North Idaho College Job Fair last year, Harness has decided to seek landscaping as a profession.

“I’ll probably work for R & J for the summer and save up some money to take a class at NIC,” Harness said.

He intends to take the two-year landscaping course at North Idaho College and one day open his own landscape business in North Idaho.

“Housing is really starting to grow around here, so it should keep me busy,” he said. “Plus I like it here because we have nice hot summers, but the winters are pretty fun, too.”