March 2, 2011 - Albany Technical College, a Tree Campus USA, will celebrate Arbor Day on Thursday, March 3, 2011, beginning at 10 a.m. on the grounds between Prosperity Hall and the George M. Kirkland Administration Building, by planting a tree in honor of its 50th Anniversary.
For the 50th year anniversary commemoration, George Paul, Environmental Horticulture instructor at Albany Tech, has selected a large live oak, because it is the Georgia state tree and because of what it symbolizes – strength and courage. The tree will be planted in close proximity to Prosperity Hall, also known as Building A, since it was the College’s very first administration building.
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.
In addition, Albany Tech will be joined by Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. (Delta Eta Omega Chapter, Inc.) for the celebration. Founded in 1908 at Howard University, the sorority became the first national sorority for black women. In 1946, eleven women gathered to charter the first black Greek organization in Albany, named Delta Eta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Today, the chapter has grown to over 100 members with a wide range of ages and years of service given to the sorority.
Albany Technical College also celebrates another year of being named a Tree Campus USA. The College has been named Tree Campus USA since 2008 for its dedication to campus forestry management and environmental stewardship.
Tree Campus USA, a 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.