February 23, 2010 - Albany Technical College, a Tree Campus USA, will celebrate Arbor Day on Thursday, February 25, 2010, beginning at 10 a.m. on the grounds east of Prosperity Hall, Building A.
Mr. Chuck Norvell, Urban Forester for the Georgia Forestry Commission, will enlighten attendees on the history of Arbor Day and the importance of trees in our environment. In addition, Ilisi Malone, City of Albany Arborist, will also speak on the importance of preserving and protecting trees.
The Arbor Day Foundation today honored Albany Technical College as a Tree Campus USA college in 2009 for its dedication to campus forestry management and environmental stewardship.
Tree Campus USA, a new national program launched by the Arbor Day Foundation, honors college 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. Tree Campus USA is supported by a $750,000 grant from Toyota.
Albany Technical College 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.
The Arbor Day Foundation launched Tree Campus USA in the fall of 2008 by planting trees at nine college campuses throughout the United States. More information about the Tree Campus USA program is available at www.arborday.org/TreeCampusUSA.
About the Arbor Day Foundation
The Arbor Day Foundation is a nonprofit conservation organization of nearly one million members, with a mission to inspire people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees. More information on the Foundation and its programs can be found at arborday.org.
About Albany Technical College
A public postsecondary institution of the Technical System of Georgia, Albany Technical College provides technical education and training support for the evolving workforce needs of Southwest Georgia through traditional and online classroom settings. For more information about Albany Tech, go to www.AlbanyTech.edu or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/AlbanyTech