Campus Beautification Day, the annual planting of trees and flowers and laying of mulch around the campus, had a record turnout of 392 staff, faculty and students volunteers April 16, according to Assistant Grounds Director Mark Feist.
In his 15 years at the University, Feist said he has never seen so many students and faculty work together to beautify AU’s campus.
During this year’s celebration, AU partnered with the Potomac, Md., public school system, whose students planted trees next to the Katzen Arts Museum.
The University plans to expand the areas behind Katzen Arts Museum into a forest in the future, Feist said.
President Neil Kerwin announced AU’s elevated status as an arboretum from a Level One arboretum to a Level Two at the Campus Beautification Day barbeque that was held after activities. A Level Two accreditation is earned if an arboretum has at least 100 planted trees, hired arboretum staff and arboretum education programs, according to an earlier report by Ravi Raman of AU Communications.
Anthony Jones of the D.C. Urban Forestry Administration presented an updated Tree Campus USA plaque for AU’s new arboretum status at the event. The plaque is updated annually by AU and The Arbor Day Foundation, according to Feist.
UFA is “responsible for establishing and maintaining a full population of healthy street trees within the District,” according to their website.
Community’s efforts like CBD led to the arboretum’s higher accreditation throughout the last 20 years, Kerwin said.
“CBD is a great way to get to know other people and other walks of life on campus,” School of Communication professor and CBD volunteer W. Joseph Campbell said. Campbell said he works with grounds staff two days out of the week during the summer semester as well.
“What’s happened here is good for the spirit of campus — the soul of the campus,” SOC professor and CBD volunteer Rick Stach said. “When we’re done the campus is so much more beautiful. There is an inspirational sense to the results of the work.”
jsmith@theeagleonline.com
