For the 13th consecutive year, TCC Southeast has been designated a Higher Education Tree Campus by the Arbor Day Foundation.
Notification came in an email from Lauren Weyers, project manager for the foundation who wrote, “To obtain this distinction, your campus has met the five core standards for sustainable campus forestry, including establishment of a tree advisory committee, evidence of a campus tree care plan, dedicated annual expenditures for your campus tree program, an Arbor Day observance and the sponsorship of student service-learning projects.”
Trees have long been a big deal at Southeast. Tree planting and maintenance was a pet project of founding President Judith Carrier and has been carried forward by faculty and staff, including representatives from Biology, Geology, Math, Science and others.
“I know a lot of the other campuses celebrate Earth Day, but we celebrate Arbor Day,” said Administrative Specialist Delania Milligan, “and that’s what has established and helped us with our recognition as a Tree Campus USA.”
Planning is well under way for this year’s Arbor Day, which is the last Friday of April — the 28th this year. Winners are to be announced by TCC Southeast President Bill Coppola for student competitions in ceramics and posters carrying the Arbor Day theme. Neighboring community partners who deal with sustainability and water conversation issues will be on hand. And free saplings will be given out.
“Some of the past winning ceramics are on display in ESTC,” Milligan said. “They’re earth-themes or portray trees and really help us celebrate.”