Arbor Day Foundation Names Lewis a Tree Campus USA

The Arbor Day Foundation recently named a 2011 Tree Campus USA. It is the third consecutive year the Lewis University has been honored for its commitment to effective community forestry.

“This distinction recognizes our commitment to providing a beautiful and sustainable environment for our students, faculty, staff and many campus visitors. Our staff works diligently to ensure the Romeoville campus remains a veritable arboretum with more than 60 varieties of deciduous trees on campus that are properly maintained despite the many challenges of a campus serving nearly 6,500 students and several construction projects,” said Lewis President Brother James Gaffney, FSC.

Lewis University achieved the designation once again by meeting the required five core standards for sustainable campus forestry: a tree advisory committee, a campus tree-care plan, dedicated annual expenditures for its campus tree program, an Arbor Day observance and the sponsorship of student service-learning projects.

“Achieving Tree Campus USA recognition sets an example for other colleges and universities and allows students a chance to give back to both their campus community and the community at-large,” said John Rosenow, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation.

Tree Campus USA, a national 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. Tree Campus USA is supported by a generous grant from Toyota.

During 2011, the Arbor Day Foundation and Toyota helped campuses throughout the country plant 30,000 trees, and Tree Campus USA colleges and universities have invested more than $22 million in campus forest management. More information about the Tree Campus USA program is available at www.arborday.org/TreeCampusUSA.