YSU Named Tree Campus USA for 4th Year
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- Youngstown State University has been named a Tree Campus USA by the Arbor Day Foundation for the fourth consecutive year. YSU’s tree population of nearly 2,000 is composed of 79 species that represent 49 genera and has an estimated value of $2.2 million.
“Managing natural resources on an urban campus is a challenging undertaking,” said Catherine Cala, director of development at YSU and chairwoman of the university’s Campus Beautification Working Group in a prepared statement. “Our grounds department does an excellent job with hard-working, dedicated personnel who treasure our campus landscape. The Campus Beautification Initiative augments the university’s efforts with philanthropic dollars.”
Funding for trees is directed to an endowment that helps sustain the trees and green spaces for the benefit of future generations of students, Cala added.
Students involved in the Campus Beautification Initiative celebrated Earth Day and Arbor Day by calling attention to the trees on the campus. Students Andrew Boyle, Sarah Perrine and Neil Anthonsen helped distribute flyers to encourage student involvement in the preservation of the trees and green spaces. Perrine, a junior and a member of the Campus Beautification Working Group, is striving to establish a class tree program where in which each graduating class would sponsor the planting of a tree and place a plaque that recognizes the graduating seniors. Perrine hopes to start this undertaking with the Class of 2014, her graduating class.
Tree Campus USA is a national program created in 2008 to recognize colleges and universities for effective campus forest management and for engaging staff and students in conservation goals. Tree Campus USA colleges and universities devoted $23 million to campus forest management last year.
Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
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