A ceremony to celebrate Kent State University’s designation as a Tree Campus USA for the third consecutive year recently took place in front of Engleman Hall as the university also celebrated Arbor Day.

The Tree Campus USA award, which is given by the Arbor Day Foundation, was presented to Gregg Floyd, Kent State vice president for finance and administration. Following the presentation, residents of Engleman Hall planted a tree to commemorate the occasion. Engleman Hall was the winner of Kent State’s 2011 Recyclemania competition.

"I am excited for our third Tree Campus USA award," says Heather White, manager of campus environment and operations at Kent State. "This award is recognition for all the work the men and women of the grounds department put in, caring for our existing trees and planting new trees for future generations. We have tremendous partners and support throughout university departments to continue greening campus."

Kent State met the required five core standards of tree care and community engagement in order to receive Tree Campus USA status. Those standards are 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.

Tree Campus USA, a national program launched in 2008 by the Arbor Day Foundation, honors colleges and universities and the leaders of the campus and surrounding communities for promoting healthy urban forest management and engaging the campus community in environmental stewardship. During the first year of the program, Kent State was one of 29 schools to receive the initial designation.

For more information about the Tree Campus USA program, visit www.arborday.org/treecampususa or www.arbordaynow.org.