Kent State University held its fifth annual Arbor Day celebration with a tree planting on Friday, April 26, at noon near Engleman Hall.
Heather White, grounds manager with University Facilities Management, says the celebration recognizes Kent State for receiving a Tree Campus USA designation from the Arbor Day Foundation for the fifth year in a row.
Tree Campus USA was created in 2008 to honor colleges and universities across the nation for campus forest management and engagement in conservation goals. To earn the Tree Campus USA designation, Kent State had to meet five standards: maintain a tree advisory committee, develop a campus tree-care plan, dedicate annual expenditures toward trees and host Arbor Day observances and student service-learning projects.
About 20 Kent State students and staff participated in the tree-planting ceremony this year, and White says it was a successful event.
“The weather was great,” says White. “Everyone was smiling, and Engleman Hall was recognized for winning RecycleMania.”
Kent State continues to work toward the goal of keeping the campus green through programs like RecycleMania — an international competition where colleges and universities strive to reduce waste and increase recycling. White believes Arbor Day is equally important to help raise awareness for all the green initiatives at the university.
“It is important to demonstrate to students, staff and administration our commitment to keeping Kent State green,” says White. “We plant trees to show our commitment to the future.”
More information about the Tree Campus USA program is available at www.arborday.org/TreeCampusUSA or www.arbordaynow.org.
The Arbor Day Foundation is a nonprofit conservation organization of nearly one million members, with a mission to inspire people to plant, nurture and celebrate trees. More information on the foundation and its programs can be found at www.arborday.org.