April 22, 2015
For Immediate Release

By Shelby Hall, student news writer

CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. - Campbellsville University began a week-long celebration of Earth Day April 21 at Turner Log Cabin when flowers and trees were planted, environmental awards were given and all aspects of earth stewardship were honored.

Taylor County and Campbellsville Independent Schools elementary school students planted the flowers and learned about the earth.

Michael Jennings, president of CU's environmental group Green Minds, led with a prayer stating, “We are so grateful for the Earth you have blessed us with God.”

Dr. John Chowning, vice president for church and external relations and executive assistant to the president, explained CU's mission in earth stewardship.

Taylor County Elementary School fifth grader Evie Sapp plants flowers with her fellow classmates at CU's Earth Day Celebration. (Campbellsville University Photo by Rachel DeCoursey)

Chowning said, “If each person can do their part it will make a huge difference, and all of you will have the chance to make a difference today.”

In response to this charge, four second grade classes made up of 110 students from Campbellsville Elementary School planted flowers and helped with the preparation of planting of two trees.

Taylor County Elementary School's leadership group, called the Student Lighthouse Team, participated in planting flowers and trees as well. Their leaders were Shea Poff and Jennifer Sprowles.

Campbellsville Mayor Tony Young and Taylor County Judge/Executive Eddie Rogers read a joint proclamation explaining that we must “encourage others to undertake similar action in supporting the environment.”

Dr. Richard Kessler, environmental studies program coordinator and chair of the Kentucky Heritage Land Conservation Fund, presented the Howell Earth Stewardship Awards in honor of George Howell, donor for Clay Hill Memorial Forest (CHMF).

CU's Green Minds Environmental Club was the grand prize winner of $1,270, and CU's School of Nursing's Kentucky Association of Nursing Students (KANS) was runner-up and received $1,000.

Green Minds will use their winnings to show a movie at CU about the environment, host a photography competition, find a specialist in holistic nutrition to educate students in better eating habits and create a PowerPoint presentation to present to schools concerning their topic.

CU's nursing program will use their award to help promote clean water usage and further research.
Kentucky Utilities Energy was thanked for their continued support of Campbellsville University's environmental education program at the Clay Hill Memorial Forest.

As part of Campbellsville University's Earth Day celebration, a new tree was planted in Turner Log Cabin Park by those who participated in the event. From left, are: Dr. Richie Kessler, environmental studies program coordinator and chair of the Kentucky Heritage Land Conservation Fund, Michael Jennings, GPA president, Constanze Malzer, Green Minds president, Campbellsville Mayor Tony Young, Taylor County Judge/Executive Eddie Rogers, George Howell, a principal donor of Clay Hill Memorial Forest, Dr. Frank Cheatham, senior vice president for academic affairs, Carla Goldsmith, retail operations manager at Kentucky Utilities, and Dr. John Chowning, vice president for church and external relations and executive assistant to the president. (Campbellsville University Photo by Rachel DeCoursey)

Carla Goldsmith, retail operations manager at Kentucky Utilities, said, “Kentucky Utilities also has roots in the CU community.” Goldsmith's company provides CU with a $5,000 grant for the Trails of Trees Project demonstrating their “Right Tree, Right Place” initiative. The Trail of Trees Project contributes to the landscaping on campus.

Rob Roberts, director of grounds and landscape development at CU, and advisor of CU's Green Minds group, gave the Green Minds Earth Stewardship Award to Ana Silva of Venezuela, a graduate student in marriage and family therapy. The award, which hasn't been given in four years, was presented to Silva for her work with recycling on campus and other work with Green Minds.

Other events during the week of celebration included the dedication of the praying hands on campus, events at Clay Hill Memorial Forest, which included the first field trip for sight-impaired children from Washington County, a “Day with a Scientist” at CHMF with Dr. Darrin Rubino, an associate professor of biology at Hanover College in Indiana; and a hike to Little Angel Trail at Clay Hill.

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.