Trine University honored as 2017 Tree Campus

LINCOLN, Neb. (03/15/2018) — Trine University was honored with 2017 Tree Campus USA® recognition by the Arbor Day Foundation for its commitment to effective urban forest management.

"Students are eager to volunteer in their communities and become better stewards of the environment," said Matt Harris, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. "Participating in Tree Campus USA sets a fine example for other colleges and universities, while helping to create a healthier planet for us all."

Tree Campus USA, an Arbor Day Foundation program, celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. The Tree Campus USA program honors colleges and universities for effective campus forest management and engaging staff and students in conservation goals. Trine University earned 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 344 campuses across the United States with this recognition.

Brandy DePriest, faculty advisor for Trine's SPEAK for the Earth student organization, said Trine's grounds crew and the Campus Tree Advisory Committee have played a key part in allowing the university to receive the Tree Campus USA designation again.

"Without their hard work and dedication to fostering a natural environment on campus, this designation wouldn't be possible," said DePriest, who also serves as director of the university's Environmental and Community Outreach Center.

The Arbor Day Foundation has helped campuses throughout the country plant thousands of trees, and Tree Campus USA colleges and universities invested more than $48 million in campus forest management last year. More information about the program is available at arborday.org/TreeCampusUSA.

The city of Angola, where Trine University is located, has been recognized as a Tree City USA for 29 years.

The Arbor Day Foundation is a 1 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.