Sponsored by the Office of Environmental Policy in conjunction with Earth Day Spring Fling on April 22nd, Arbor Day was celebrated in a big way in 2015; Literally, with a 32 sq. foot tree cake, UCONN in flowers in front of the Union,  giant Tree Campus USA banners and a bucket truck! After winning the Arbor Day Contest, the National Arbor Day Foundation supplied UConn with $500, t-shirts, hats, wristbands, and tons of banners and signs to celebrate the momentous occasion of UConn being recognized as a Tree Campus USA. UConn’s Tree Campus USA designation recognizes the University for taking care of its trees and promoting forestry. The celebration was capped with the planting of a Franklinia tree in front of the School of Business at 12 pm.

Many students watched volunteers and the Husky Mascot moving and filling in the tree as Greg Tormey from Facilities Operations and Chris Bruno, an OEP intern, discussed the significance of Arbor Day. After the tree planting, Bill Bates from Facilities Operations held a tree pruning demonstration. Amidst everything going on, Arborist Kathleen Dugas from the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station came to talk about the Emerald Ash Borer issue plaguing Connecticut’s trees. The event could not have been made possible without the help Eileen McHugh from Planning Architectural and Engineering Services, John Kehoe, Bill Bates and Greg Tormey from Facilities Operations, Christine Wilson from Student Activities, Dining Services, and volunteers from various student organizations.