I
INTRODUCTION
EVENT OVERVIEW
ARBOR COMMITTEE
FUN FACTS
EVENT STATISTICS
VAQUERO VOICES
THANK YOU
ARBOR DAY
At the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV), our dedication to sustainability goes hand in hand with fostering a deeper connection to nature. Arbor Day is the perfect occasion for us to celebrate that commitment, uniting students, faculty, and staff in the shared mission of creating a greener,
Arbor Day has its roots in 1872, when Julius Sterling Morton, a passionate advocate for agriculture and conservation, proposed a day dedicated to planting trees. The state of Nebraska embraced the idea, and on the very first Arbor Day, over one million trees were planted. Since then, the celebration has spread across the nation and the world
It is traditionally celebrated on the last Friday in April, though it varies in timing across the United States to align with the best planting seasons for each region.
In Texas, we celebrate Arbor Day on the in November, a time better suited for tree planting in our warm climate.
EVENT
Texas Arbor Day celebrated their 10-year anniversary on November 8, with the company of the young students at the UTRGV Child Development Center in Edinburg.
Hosted by the Office for Sustainability, UTRGV’s partnership with Tree Campus USA, a program to acknowledge campus conservation initiatives, held a brief ceremony to commemorate the planting of a Cedar Elm native tree. Known for its unique resilience to Texas weather, this tree is an ideal choice for UTRGV Child Development Center because of its minimal maintenance and child safety properties.
Dr. Alexis Racelis, Program Director of Agroecology & Urban Forestry Research Class
Mr. Allen Williams, Director of Educational Habitat, Landscaping, & Gardens for Region I
Mr. Leonel Duran, City of Edinburg Official
Mr. Carlos Garcia Patlan, Texas A&M Forestry Service
UTRGV Grounds & Community (Campus Facilities Team)
NURTURING THE NEXT GENERATION TO PLANT MORE TREES
EVENT OVERVIEW
The wonderful addition to the UTRGV community instilled an important message to the children, to care for the trees, especially the Cedar Elm planted in the playground area and learn to love nature for a better, more sustainable future.
UTRGV proudly holds the prestigious recognition of Tree Campus USA, as we are one out of two other university campuses in the UT system to hold this award. To improve, support, and celebrate urban forestry throughout the UTRGV campuses and unite sustainable efforts within the South Texas community.
Dr. Alexis Racelis directed a hands-on learning experience for his Urban Forestry class during the event to explain the planting preparation of the Cedar Elm tree. Sharing biology concepts to properly plant a solid foundation to the tree that will last up to 100 years.
In addition, Mr. Leonel Duran, an official representative of the City of Edinburg, attended the event as a key member of the UTRGV Tree Campus committee and community stake holder to plant more trees and combat environmental harm as the city of Edinburg continues to grow. Nonetheless, ending the Texas Arbor Day celebration as a milestone to strive towards an improvement to planet Earth and greatly appreciating the Campus Facilities team for their never-ending effort to beautify UTRGV.
COMMITTEE
Welcome to the UTRGV Tree Campus Committee
At the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, our commitment to the environment and sustainability is reflected in every tree we plant and care for on campus. As a proud participant in Tree Campus Higher Education, UTRGV is recognized for its efforts to preserve and enhance our natural surroundings, while promoting environmental education and awareness among students, staff, and the entire university community.
What Does the Tree Campus Committee Do?
The Tree Campus Committee meets quarterly to plan events, educational activities, and tree planting ceremonies that foster respect for and conservation of the environment. Our committee includes faculty, university staff, conservation experts, and students who are passionate about sustainability. Together, we discuss ideas to improve the care of our green spaces and organize events that inspire others to join our mission.
Jonathan Leal Student Representative
Carlos Garcia Patlan, RGV Community Ecologist
Leonel Duran, City Forester of Edinburg
Jeremy San Miguel, Interm Director for Sustainability
Bill Green, RGV Community Ecologist
Dr. Christopher Gabler
Stephanie Trujillo Program Coordinator
Abraham Hernandez, Assistant VP for Campus Facilities Operation
Nick Kennedy, Grounds Supervisor
Emmalucia Elizondo Student Representative
Dr. Alexis Racelis
FUN FACT FUN
The cedar elm is a Texas native tree known for its unique, rough-textured leaves and resilience to the Texas climate. With a lifespan often over a hundred years and wood prized for durability, cedar elms add both beauty and practicality to our environment, making them a wonderful addition to our community.
The cedar elm is an ideal choice for the Child’s Development Center because it’s both kid-friendly and low-maintenance. Unlike other trees, it doesn’t drop messy seeds or pods, keeping play areas clean and safe for children to play.
VAQUERO
VAQUERO VOICES
“The Cedar Elm Tree is more drought-resistant, making it a better fit for this area. Its defining features include rougher leaves and bark that’s a bit flaky, which earned it the name ‘Cedar Elm’.”
“It is better to take care of the trees now with a good, solid foundation. Similar to how we are teaching the small children here today, to build a strong foundation for them as well,”
– Dr. Alexis Racelis, UTRGV program director of Agroecology
– City of Edinburg Official
“My hope is that these children will want to plant more trees, be outside, and be able to notice the benefits from planting trees.”
–
Allen
Williams, Director of Educational
“It is the second time I’ve attended this event and we feel very blessed that we get these trees planted in our department.”
– Audrey, UTRGV Student, UTRGV Agroecology Club
“All trees produce seeds in some form, so this one may shed small seed pods or leaves, but it won’t drop large acorns or fruits that could pose a safety risk.”
– City of Edinburg Official
THANK YOU VAQUEROS
Thank you for taking the time to read through our UTRGV Arbor Day report. We hope it provided meaningful insight into the importance of Arbor Day, not only as a celebration of nature but also as an opportunity for action.
At UTRGV, Arbor Day embodies our shared commitment to sustainability and community engagement, and we’re grateful to have the chance to share these efforts with you.
We also want to express our gratitude to everyone who made this Arbor Day celebration so special. From the students and faculty to researchers, staff, community members, and the children who participated, your dedication and energy brought this event to life, inspiring us all to continue working toward a greener, more sustainable future.
We sincerely appreciate your dedication to learning more about our work and encourage you to continue being a part of these important conversations.
Sincerely,
- UTRGV Office
for Sustainability
