In 2008, Kent State University became Ohio's first Tree Campus USA university for its dedication to campus forestry management and environmental stewardship. Now, the campus in Kent, a two-time Tree Campus USA university recipient, is eligible to win the Tree Campus USA contest and $2,500 toward planting trees in the spring. Kent State University at Stark is also eligible to win the designation.

Gregg Floyd, (left) vice president for finance and administration, accepts the award last year.

The contest, which is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation and Toyota, involves 74 colleges and universities who were recognized as Tree Campus USA communities in 2009.

To vote, individuals must go to www.arbordaynow.org/root, sign up to become a Tree Planter and then choose a Tree Campus USA college or university to receive their vote.

All Kent State students, alumni, faculty and staff, as well as the public, are encouraged to vote. Individuals can vote now through Nov. 5.

As a Tree Planter, participants will be notified first about tree-planting opportunities in their community, receive monthly messages with ways to make a positive impact on the environment and become eligible to participate in other contests at www.arbordaynow.org.

Tree Campus USA is a national program that launched in 2008 by the Arbor Day Foundation. It honors colleges and universities, as well as leaders of the campus and surrounding communities, for promoting healthy urban forest management and engaging the campus community in environmental stewardship.

To earn the distinction, the university met the required five core standards of tree care and community engagement. The 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.

For more information about the contest, visit www.arbordaynow.org/root. To view a complete list of Tree Campus USA colleges and universities, go to http://www.arborday.org/programs/treeCampusUSA/campuses.cfm .

By Erin Orsini