Moraine Valley again named ‘Tree Campus’
June 21, 2012 2:26PM
Updated: July 25, 2012 6:08AM
The Arbor Day Foundation recently honored Moraine Valley Community College as a 2011 Tree Campus USA college for its “dedication to campus forestry management and environmental stewardship,” said foundation officials.
This is the third consecutive year Moraine Valley has been recognized.
“Students throughout the country are passionate about sustainability and community improvement, which makes the emphasis on well-maintained and healthy trees so important,” said John Rosenow, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. “Achieving Tree Campus USA recognition sets an example for other colleges and universities and allows students a chance to give back to their campus and the community at large.”
Tree Campus USA is a national program launched in 2008 that honors colleges, universities and leaders of the campus and surrounding communities for promoting healthy urban forest management while engaging the campus community in environmental stewardship.
Moraine Valley met the required five core standards of tree care and community engagement in order to receive Tree Campus USA status.
Those standards include establishing a campus tree advisory committee; evidence of a campus tree-care plan; verification of dedicated annual expenditures on the campus tree-care plan; involvement in an Arbor Day observance; and the institution of a service-learning project aimed at engaging the student body.
“We are thrilled that our efforts are being recognized,” said Stepheni Presseller, the college’s sustainability manger. “Moraine Valley has always held the aesthetics of our campus grounds to very high standards, and that means ensuring our trees are healthy and plentiful, too.
“We met the five core standards, and we’re working toward improving the environment and the quality of life in our community as we build and maintain our healthy, urban tree canopy.”
Provided to the SouthtownStar
