Tyler Junior College student volunteers watch a demonstration on planting trees by the Texas A&M Forest Service and TJC Grounds Maintenance department.

Over 100 trees on the Tyler Junior College campus have been lost to disease since 2021. On Friday morning, students, faculty, staff and partners planted new trees to celebrate Arbor Day.

“Today, we’re going to replace all of those — and then some,” Student Life Director Lauren Tyler said. “It’s a fun opportunity for the students to give back to the campus, get their hands dirty and beautify our campus.”

Senior Kara Wofford grew up in 4H and forestry programs in her hometown of Rusk. Wofford said she’s looking forward to returning in the future, when she is married with children, to show them the trees she has planted.

“We plant them every year, and we lose some of them, but some of them keep growing and growing,” Wofford said. “We take care of them, and eventually, for future Apaches, we’ll have big, beautiful trees again.”

About 250 volunteers participated in the event, where they received a demonstration before groups set off to plant their trees with the help of the Tyler Trees Committee, Texas A&M Forest Service and the TJC grounds maintenance department.

More trees beautify and give the campus an even more homey, friendly East Texas atmosphere. It enriches students’ lives, Dean of Students Dr. Tam Nannen said.

“It’s wonderful for them to look around and see faculty and administrators who are here right beside them,” Nannen said. “Then the camaraderie of the students that they’re doing something that’s going to benefit the campus not just for today, but for years and years in the future.”

Weather events have caused the loss of trees throughout the city, Tyler Mayor Don Warren said. However, the participation of attendees has ensured that no squirrels in the City of Tyler will be left without a home and that future generations will be able to enjoy the shade provided by the trees for years to come.

“Some of them you lose, but being able to say you gave life to that tree and you get to come back years in the future and see it again, and it’s big, and it’s grown,” Wofford said. “It’s just amazing.”