By News and Internal Communications

By Karla Averanga

RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 25, 2024 – To mark Texas Arbor Day and embrace the Lorax’s important message of caring for the planet, the children at the UTRGV Child Development Center (CDC) participated in planting a Cedar Elm tree, highlighting the importance of trees in the ecosystem.

Now in its 10^th year, this event is part of UTRGV’s partnership with Tree Campus Higher Education, a program that recognizes the campus facilities efforts to improve, maintain and celebrate urban forests on campus while fostering community engagement in conservation goals.

Texas Arbor Day is observed on the first Friday of November, providing UTRGV the chance to showcase its sustainable initiatives.

The Cedar Elm, a native plant to the Rio Grande Valley, was planted with the assistance of Dr. Alexis Racelis, UTRGV program director of Agroecology, and his Urban Forestry students. The event allowed students to learn proper tree-planting techniques, in addition to their current responsibility of measuring more than 2,000 trees on the Edinburg Campus as part of their class.

“It is better to take care of the trees now with a good, solid foundation. Like how we are teaching the small children here today, to build a strong foundation for them as well,” Racelis said.

Allen Williams, director of Educational Habitat, Landscaping, and Gardens for Region I, attended the ceremony and was impressed by the commitment of UTRGV’s students to the future environmental impact of their campus.

“I am incredibly impressed by the loving, skilled UTRGV graduates making a systemic impact on our environment and uplifting the RGV community,” said Williams. “I hope these children will be inspired to plant more trees, enjoy the outdoors, and recognize the benefits of tree planting.”

During the ceremony, Kellie Tijerina from the UTRGV Student Parent Success Organization read from the Dr. Seuss classic The Lorax and shared the importance of planting trees for a better planet. Additionally, a proclamation, from the City of Edinburg, for Texas Arbor Day was read by Jeremy San Miguel, interim director for the UTRGV Office for Sustainability.

"We won’t be here in 100 years, but the trees planted here will be,” he said.

The Cedar Elm tree, with a lifespan of 75-100 years, can provide a legacy of shade for generations to come, enhancing the quality of life in the South Texas region. Helping the CDC children plant the tree, originally from the Simmons Oaks Farms, was the UTRGV Grounds crew and community members. The CDC children took turns throwing a small pile of dirt into the hole with their mini shovels.

Before the celebration concluded, the young children presented the university’s Campus Facilities Operations with a token of their appreciation, a colorful poster with the message: “Thank you for all you do.”

For more information about UTRGV’s sustainability initiatives and events, visit the Office for Sustainability’s website or stay updated on its social media platforms.