Gwinnett Tech Named a Tree Campus USA for 7th Straight Year

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Gwinnett Technical College was among 14 Georgia campuses recognized last month for its commitment to caring for and managing its trees, and was honored during the 2015 State Arbor Day celebration at Wesleyan College for being one of Georgia’s “Tree Campus USA” communities.

“The students, staff and faculty of the Horticulture Department are proud to fly the Tree Campus USA flag. There is much work and coordination that must be performed each year within our department, with the Grounds Department and with the rest of our campus community. This designation allows us to promote the importance of our community’s tree canopy and host various events for the tree care industry, Georgia Urban Forestry Council and our partners at the Georgia Forestry Commission,” explains Aaron Poulsen, horticulture program director, Gwinnett Tech.

The Tree Campus USA program, administered by the Arbor Day Foundation, provides the framework for community forestry management for college campuses across America. Those requirements include the establishment of a tree board, a campus tree care plan, specific spending levels for urban forestry, service learning and planned Arbor Day celebrations.

“We are both excited and proud to have earned Tree Campus USA distinction for the seventh straight year,” said Gail Zorn, Gwinnett Tech grounds manager. “We are committed to the vision of the Arbor Day Foundation on our campus.”

Arbor Day Foundation President Dan Lambe traveled to Georgia for the event, which also recognized Tree City USA towns and cities and Tree Line USA utilities. Due to Georgia’s ideal winter tree planting season, the third Friday in February is designated annually as Arbor Day in Georgia. Gwinnett Technical College replanted 31 trees lost to construction, old age and decline, which helped them meet the standards necessary to be a Tree Campus USA for the 2014 year.

“The students and faculty of Gwinnett Technical College can take pride in their campus leaders’ commitment to trees and forested land – on Arbor Day and every other day of the year,” said Robert Farris, Georgia Forestry Commission Director.

For more information about Georgia’s trees and services of the Georgia Forestry Commission, visit www.GaTrees.org. For information about the Arbor Day Foundation, visitwww.arborday.org.

— Article, photo submitted by Gwinnett Tech

(Photo: Dan Lambe, Arbor Day Foundation president, and Robert Farris, Georgia Forestry Commission director, congratulate Scott Mitchell, an arborist and member of GTC’s Grounds Department (center), for helping Gwinnett Tech become a Tree Campus USA community.)