— The Arbor Day Foundation has again designated St. Bonaventure University a Tree Campus USA, the second consecutive year the university has been recognized for promoting healthy trees and engaging students and staff in the spirit of conservation management.
The designation, for the 2011 calendar year, means St. Bonaventure continues to meet the five core standards required to earn the distinction: establishment of a tree advisory committee; the presence of a tree-care plan; dedicated annual expenditures for its campus tree program; the holding of an Arbor Day observance; sponsorship of student service-learning projects.
“Students throughout the country are passionate about sustainability and community improvement, which makes St. Bonaventure’s emphasis on well-maintained and healthy trees so important,” said John Rosenow, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. “By achieving Tree Campus USA recognition, St. Bonaventure University will continue to set an example for other colleges and universities and give students a chance to give back to both their campus community and the community at-large.”
St. Bonaventure is among only some 115 colleges and universities nationwide, and only six in New York state, to earn the Tree Campus USA designation for 2011.
St. Bonaventure first applied for and received Tree Campus USA status in 2010, said Rob Hurlburt, associate director of facilities for maintenance at the university. Hurlburt, who chairs the campus Tree Advisory Committee and submits the annual Tree Campus USA application on behalf of the university’s Sustainability Committee, said St. Bonaventure is committed to keeping the designation.
“It is really gratifying to be recognized by the Arbor Day Foundation with Tree Campus USA recognition again this year. We look to continue to engage our students and campus community and increase our commitment to environmental stewardship each year,” said Hurlburt. “We hope to keep this going for years to come.”
St. Bonaventure has scheduled its annual Arbor Day tree planting for 12:15 p.m. on Friday, April 27. The planting will take place near the scoreboard at Fred Handler Park, the baseball facility on McGraw-Jennings Field, behind Reilly Center.
Tree Campus USA is supported by a generous grant from Toyota.
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