More than 300 TJC students volunteered to plant trees during TJC’s Arbor Day event on Friday. TJC Men’s Soccer team members, from left, Knox Hicks of Tyler; Donovan Pennington of Lindale; Michael Dwyer of Paris, France; Noe Robles of Tyler; Mika Ney of Oldendorf, Germany; and Marc Perkuhn of Munich, Germany. (Anne Barker, Tyler Junior College/Contributed Photo)

From Staff Reports

More than 300 Tyler Junior College students, employees and community volunteers gathered Friday on the TJC central campus to plant trees in celebration of Arbor Day.

Hosted by the City of Tyler, the Tyler Trees Committee, the Texas A&M Forest Service, Keep Tyler Beautiful and TJC, the event included the addition of 40 new trees to TJC’s landscape, replacing some that had been lost to old age and extreme weather conditions.

“Arbor Day is more than just about planting trees, it’s our responsibility to protect and nurture the environment,” Tyler Mayor Don Warren said. “The last few years have taken a toll on our trees, not just on this campus but on the entire city.”

Warren then thanked the volunteers for their efforts.

“There are so many people who come together to make this happen, and we are so grateful,” he said.

Dr. Deana Sheppard, TJC provost and vice president for academic and student affairs, said these annual tree planting events help beautify what is already a nice campus.

“During our Arbor Day events over the last three years, we have planted 150 trees on this campus, and today we are adding 40 more,” Sheppard said. “I know some of us might not be here when they grow to be big, tall trees, but you are leaving a lasting legacy here at Tyler Junior College and we thank you for that.”

An assortment of native trees were planted Friday.

TJC student groups assisting with the event included: Alpha Omicron Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa; Apache Aeros; Apache Ambassadors; Apache Band; Apache Cheer; Apache Chiefs; Black Student Association; Dental Studies; Dungeons and Dragons Club; Education Club; Gardening Club; Hispanic Student Organization; Mathematics and STEM Club; Nursing; Student Senate; TJC Football; TJC Softball; TJC Men’s Soccer; TJC Women’s Soccer; TJC Visual Communications; TRIO; and Turning Point USA.

Arbor Day is celebrated in Texas in on the third Friday in January. It began when the state legislature adopted a resolution in 1949.