Tree Campus USA award presented at Earth Week tree planting

Purdue arborist Kristopher Brown (left) accepts a Tree Campus USA flag from Ryan Bowser, DNR central region environmental review biologist. (Purdue University photo/Mark Simons) Download image

Purdue University received the Tree Campus USA award for the ninth consecutive year from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources on Thursday (April 26) during Purdue's Earth Week/Arbor Day tree planting activity.

To receive this award, campuses must meet the following five standards outlined by the Arbor Day Foundation: maintaining a tree advisory committee, using a campus tree-care plan, dedicating annual expenditures toward trees, holding an Arbor Day observance and organizing student service-learning projects.

“We are honored to be presented with the Tree Campus USA award again,” says Michael Gulich, director of campus master planning and sustainability. “Over the past year, we’ve added more trees to campus, and this is especially noticeable in the recently reopened Hort Park, where additional work was completed in alignment with the Todd’s Creek relocation. You’ll see new planting, including shrubs and trees, and our Grounds department even saved and relocated some trees from other areas of campus.”

Purdue representatives accepted the award on behalf of the University at a short ceremony north of Elliott Hall of Music. Following the presentation, the Grounds department provided a demonstration and instruction to a group of volunteers, who then planted trees in the area.

Purdue’s West Lafayette campus is home to nearly 11,000 trees of more than 400 different varieties. 

Source: Michael Gulich, director of campus master planning and sustainability, 765-494-7030