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UNO Named a Tree Campus USA for Fifth Year

UNO Campus

The UNO campus is lined by dozens of trees of all types and is adjacent to two of Omaha's most popular and beautiful parks, Elmwood Park and Memorial Park

OMAHA – For the fifth consecutive year, the Arbor Day Foundation has named the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) as one of its “Tree Campus USA” campuses.

The announcement comes just ahead of two important holidays that raise awareness for taking care of our planet: Arbor Day and Earth Day.

To celebrate this recognition, UNO Student Government will plant a tree on UNO’s Pacific Campus at 11 a.m. on Arbor Day, which is Friday, April 24.

The Tree Campus USA designation was launched by the Arbor Day Foundation and Toyota Motors in 2008 with UNO making the list each year since 2011.

The recognition honors the leadership of America’s colleges and universities for promoting healthy trees and engaging students, staff and faculty in discussions about conservation.

In a letter recognizing UNO, Dan Lambe, president of the Arbor Day Foundation, wrote: “By earning Tree Campus USA recognition, [UNO] has shown its commitment to protecting and preserving its valuable tree resources and will reap their benefits for generations of students to come.”

Arbor Day was founded in 1872 by Nebraska politician John Sterling Morton.

Last year, UNO Student Government joined Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert and the Omaha Parks, Recreation and Public Property Department to plant three trees north of the University of Nebraska Peter Kiewit Institute.

The five elements that a school must have before being eligible to be recognized as a Tree Campus USA, which are:

- A campus tree advisory committee

- A campus tree care plan

- A campus tree program with dedicated annual expenditures

- An Arbor Day observance

- Service learning opportunities.

Friday’s tree planting is one of about a dozen Earth Week events that will be occurring on the UNO campus including Earth Day Omaha in Elmwood Park on Saturday, April 18; an Earth Day Symposium in Mammel Hall on Earth Day, Wednesday, April 22; and Solar Car Races on Thursday, April 23.

Members of UNO’s Tree Campus Advisory Committee include:

- Steve Rodie, Director of UNO’s Center for Urban Sustainability

- Lowell Neuhaus, UNO Landscape Manager

- John Amend, Director of Facilities and Management

- Jordan McDermott, Landscape Services

- Marci Lundhigh, Lanoha Nurseries

If there are any questions about the Tree Campus USA designation or the tree planting taking place on April 24, please contact Charley Reed, UNO Associate Director of Media Relations, at 402.554.2129 or unonews@unomaha.edu.

About the University of Nebraska at Omaha
Located in one of America’s best cities to live, work and learn, the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) is Nebraska’s premier metropolitan university. With more than 15,000 students enrolled in 200-plus programs of study, UNO is recognized nationally for its online education, graduate education, military friendliness and community engagement efforts. Founded in 1908, UNO has served learners of all backgrounds for more than 100 years and is dedicated to another century of excellence both in the classroom and in the community.

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