BOONE, N.C. — Today is Arbor Day. In addition to its biannual tree planting, Appalachian State University honors the day by having planted new trees and shrubs donated by nature lover and former Board of Trustees Chair Alice Roess.

Some of the plants are visible outside John E. Thomas Hall and along Sanford Mall. Plans for where to put the remaining donations are being determined.

Roess’ donations include Colorado blue spruces and a weeping white spruce. These tree species support the university’s goal of adding more evergreens on campus — a goal Roess is excited to help achieve, according to Appalachian arborist Chris Erickson. Other tree and shrub donations include buckeye trees, a paperbark maple and panicle hydrangeas.

Appalachian has held Tree Campus USA designation since 2014. The program, launched in 2008 by the Arbor Day Foundation, honors colleges and universities and their leaders for promoting healthy trees and engaging students and staff in the spirit of conservation.

In a recent letter to Appalachian renewing its designation, Dan Lambe, president of the Arbor Day Foundation, wrote that “by earning Tree Campus USA recognition, your campus has shown its commitment to protecting and preserving its valuable tree resources and will reap their benefits for generations of students to come.”

To obtain this distinction, Appalachian continues to meet the five core standards for effective campus forest management, including the establishment of a tree advisory committee, evidence of a care plan for campus trees, dedicated annual expenditures for its campus tree program, an Arbor Day observance and the sponsorship of student service-learning projects.

In addition to being a Tree Campus USA designee, Appalachian is located in a Tree City USA community. Boone has held this designation for 24 years.

Want to learn more about the trees at Appalachian? Visit the Appalachian trees page to see a map of all of the trees monitored on campus and learn about tree removals and how to help trees on campus thrive.

Arbor Day Foundation

We inspire people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees

“We inspire people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees.” This is the mission statement of the Arbor Day Foundation, a 501(c)3 nonprofit conservation and education organization.

Founded in 1972, the centennial of the first Arbor Day observance in the 19th century, the Foundation has grown to become the largest nonprofit membership organization dedicated to planting trees, with over one million members, supporters, and valued partners.

Learn more

Appalachian earns Tree Campus USA certification

Sep. 19, 2014

Appalachian State University has received Tree Campus USA certification from the Arbor Day Foundation. The certification process was a collaborative effort between the Department of Biology, Department of Geography and Planning, Physical Plant and New River Light and Power. The Tree City USA program is a national program that provides the framework for community forestry management for cities and towns across the United States.

Read the story

About Appalachian State University

As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, affordable education for all. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.

What do you think?

Share your feedback on this story.