
Media Contact
Kenya King
Director
Public Relations and Marketing Communications
Perimeter College
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DECATUR, Ga.—Environmental enthusiasts and volunteers gathered in October on the Decatur campus of Georgia State University Perimeter College to plant 60 trees in celebration of the college’s 60th anniversary.
College staffers collaborated with Trees Atlanta and the Arbor Day Foundation for the special project designed to enhance the tree canopy for the enjoyment of Perimeter’s faculty, staff, students and campus visitors. Michelle Arth, Perimeter’s operations officer, explained that the trees will bring aesthetic appeal and more.
“The additional tree canopy will offer improved environmental benefits to our campus and surrounding communities, she said.
“These trees will provide cleaner air, cool shade, and all-around improved habitat for humans and wildlife living in our community.”
GSU’s Decatur Campus at Perimeter College already is recognized for its rolling, landscaped lawns, miles of sidewalks and pedestrian nature trail, named for former U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama. It’s also home to an internationally known native botanical garden featuring more than 4,000 native plants from throughout the United States, with plant sales and lectures offered seasonally, as well as a community garden that is used an educational tool for students, who plant and harvest fruits, vegetables and herbs for the benefit of local nonprofits.
The Decatur tree planting occurred just a month after the campus received a “Bee Campus” designation from the Xerces Society for its pollinator-friendly landscape management practices and the Native Garden’s efforts to support pollinators. Together, with grant-funded efforts on the Clarkston campus to plant over 300 trees, these activities are re-connecting students, staff and faculty with the campus environment and creating living laboratories for examining the health and resilience of native plants and trees in urban environments.
“We all know about the benefits of trees to society and to the global ecosystem, so we’re very excited,” said Perimeter College Dean Barbara Johnson, who was among the volunteers who dressed for the chilly temperature on Friday, Oct. 25 to dig and plant.
“This is an incredibly fitting way to honor the environment and to observe Perimeter’s 60 years of cultivating community connections and providing high-quality academic and co-curricular experiences to those who turn to us for their higher education needs."
River Birch, Blackgum and Red Cedar and various species of oaks are among the 60 native trees planted on a mounded knoll east of the campus’s administration building and just outside the student center.
Tatiana Carpenter participated in the tree planting activity, as a Trees Atlanta volunteer, alongside those from various departments at the college. She planted an Oak tree that will bear red leaves.
“I’m a tree hugger,” she said while digging in the soil. “So, thank you for having me here in your environment and your space to be part of you and earth and humanity.”
Michael Lupsha is Trees Atlanta’s Plant healthcare and yard tree manager.
“This is just a fulfilling thing to do,” he said.
“To get out here with volunteers that are dedicated to their community; they’re dedicated to the environment, and everybody coming together with a like-minded purpose of wanting to give back to our environment and work amongst one another to achieve a goal of being stewards for our community—it’s a great opportunity and we really appreciate the partnership.”
In addition to Dean Johnson, Arth, and faculty, staff, student and community volunteers, the collaboration between Georgia State University and Trees Atlanta includes strong endorsement and participation from:
Susan Ridley, Sr. Director, Finance Administration and Risk Management;
Jennifer Wilson, Manager, Sustainability Initiatives;
Robert Paltz, Operations Manager, Grounds, Building Services;
Ellin McDonough, Director Civic Engagement, Civic Engagement; and
Steven Kaczmarczyk, Facilities and Events Manager, Perimeter College Facilities.