May 3, 2012
For Immediate Release

By Joan C. McKinney, news and publications coordinator

CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. - Elementary students dropped plants in the ground and pushed dirt around them as part of Campbellsville University's celebration of Earth Day April 20.

Students in the First-Year Experience classes at CU worked with Spencer Adams, a senior serving as president of Green Minds and who is from Marion, Ohio, and the Campbellsville Elementary School students who planted flowers and other greenery.

The classes, under leadership of Dr. Richie Kessler, associate professor of biology/environmental studies program coordinator, and Brenda Tungate, associate professor of biology, worked on several projects including the Earth Day celebration.

In addition to working with the Earth Day event, Kessler's class presented a rain garden/rain barrel presentation to a group of students in the gifted-and-talented program at Campbellsville Middle School. Tungate's class also planted shrubs at Earth Day.

“It was great to see our students interact with students both in the classroom and on campus,” Kessler said.
“They were able to both share lessons in Earth Stewardship as well demonstrate it at the Earth Day Celebration.”

Spencer Adams, left, president of Green Minds, the student organization at CU, spoke to Campbellsville Elementary School students before they began planting. (Campbellsville University Photo by Joan C. McKinney)

 

Adams said 34 different species of natural wildflowers and grasses, three different species of ferns and 11 different species of trees and shrubs, for a total of 48 native Kentucky plants, have been planted in the area known as Log Cabin Park, which he said was the “Central Park” of Campbellsville University and Campbellsville.

The Log Cabin Park is located on South Columbia Avenue, Campbellsville.

Adams said water conservation, sustainable building practices, soil conservation and native wildlife habitat improvement have been worked on in the area.

The projects achieved in the past 1½ years include: construction of multiple native wildflower beds, addition of an Appalachian style pathway, planting of a seed demonstration plot, construction of a cedar gazebo and bridge, cedar benches, an Appalachian style fire pit and a rain garden, placement of bluebird houses around the park and the planting of a variety of native trees and shrubs.

For the future, Adams said the plans include: installation of solar panels, equipping each building with rain barrels, installation of a green roof on the log cabin, construction of another cedar bridge, improvements in the creek, signage for the plants and construction of a vegetable garden for students.

Campbellsville Mayor Tony Young and Taylor County Judge/Executive Eddie Rogers, who was unable to attend, proclaimed April 20 as Environmental Education Earth Day.

Young said he and Rogers “pledge to support education initiatives addressing the protection and preservation of the environment and encourage others to undertake similar action.

“We encourage the citizens of Campbellsville-Taylor County to participate in efforts to promote environmental education, community cleanup and sustainability of our natural resources.”

Young said the youth of a community are its best resources, and, “We must live in a healthy and sustainable manner.”

 

Lindey Young, a CU student, helps Aiden Cox, left, and Aarein Bridgewater plant flowers at Earth Day. Aiden and Aarein are students at Campbellsville Elementary School. (Campbellsville University Photo by Joan C. McKinney)

John Chowning, vice president for church and external relations and executive assistant to the president, said this was the third annual Earth Day event at Campbellsville University, and Campbellsville University is “very, very interested in earth stewardship.”

He said the university administration believes earth stewardship is part of the Christian faith and ethics to sustain what God has given us.

“God has blessed our state,” Chowning said. “There is no spot on earth that is more beautiful and wonderfully created.”

Dr. Michael V. Carter, president of Campbellsville University, quoted Psalms 24:1 which says: “The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.”

He said Campbellsville University follows the Great Commission from Matthew 28 asking the people to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” but “We cannot do this when you can't breathe the air or if the world is unfit.”

Adams, after helping the elementary school children with their plantings, urged them to come back and enjoy the area.

Campbellsville University students Caroline Owen, left, and Jackie Schwieger work with Sarah Atkins, left, and Haley Kelly of Campbellsville Elementary School, as they begin planting flowers at the Log Cabin Park. (Campbellsville University Photo by Joan C. McKinney)

Second grade students in the classes of Laura Dicken and Tonya Hagan from Campbellsville Elementary School, and the fourth grade Safety Patrol and third and fourth grade Energy Team from Campbellsville Elementary School with teachers Sonya Orberson and Angie Russell, attended the event and helped with planting.

Luke Robertson, a freshman from Owensboro, Ky., gave the welcome to those attending, and Kelsey Anderson, a freshman from Campbellsville, gave the invocation. Both are FYE student leaders.

Earth Day is an international environmental event to celebrate the efforts of protecting the biodiversity on planet Earth.

Campbellsville University is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university with more than 3,500 students offering 63 undergraduate options, 17 master's degrees, five postgraduate areas and eight pre-professional programs. The website for complete information is campbellsville.edu.