ACTC gets Tree Campus designation

March 4, 2019

 

     Ashland Community and Technical College was honored with the 2018 Tree Campus USA designation by the Arbor Day Foundation for its commitment to effective urban forest management. This is the fourth consecutive year the college has received the distinction.
     "Tree Campuses and their students set examples for not only their student bodies but the surrounding communities showcasing how trees create a healthier environment,” said Dan Lambe, president of the Arbor Day Foundation. “Because of your school’s participation air will be purer, water cleaner and your students and faculty will be surrounded by the shade and beauty the trees provide.”
     The Tree Campus USA program honors colleges and universities for effective campus forest management and for engaging staff and students in conservation goals. Ashland Community and Technical College achieved the title by meeting Tree Campus USA’s five standards, which include maintaining a tree advisory committee, a campus tree-care plan, dedicated annual expenditures for its campus tree program, an Arbor Day observance and student service-learning project. Currently there are 364 campuses across the United States with this recognition.
     For many years, ACTC has participated in a tree seedling giveaway, handing out free low-growth trees to Ashland residents. This year’s giveaway will be on Saturday, April 27 at the College Drive Campus. ACTC has also made an effort to bring native species of trees back on campus, along with removing invasive species, which will help make the campus more eco-friendly and sustainable. Twice in 2018, the college partnered with the Ashland Rotary Club, local Boy Scouts and Kentucky Power to plant native trees on campus.
     “We are happy to receive the designation for another year, and to see our campus improve due to following the guidelines outlined in our campus tree care plan,” said Paul Seasor, ACTC’s director of maintenance and operations. “We are also excited to see our students learning and engaging in environmental stewardship.”
     The Arbor Day Foundation has helped campuses throughout the country plant thousands of trees, and Tree Campus USA colleges and universities invested more than $51 million in campus forest management last year. More information about the program is available at arborday.org/TreeCampusUSA.
     About the Arbor Day Foundation: The Arbor Day Foundation is a million-member nonprofit conservation and education organization with the mission to inspire people to plant, nurture and celebrate trees. More information is available at arborday.org.