April 1, 2011
On April 1, approximately 40 CUA students gathered on an unseasonably chilly and damp morning to plant 10 Yoshino cherry trees adjacent to the Edward M. Crough Center for Architectural Studies.
The campus tree planting - a student service learning project - was held in conjunction with the National Cherry Blossom Festival Neighborhood Tree Planting Program. The festival, held every spring in Washington, D.C., commemorates the gift of 3,000 cherry blossom trees from Mayor Ukio Ozaki of Tokyo to the city in 1912.
To begin the event, Rev. Andrew Santamauro, O.F.M. Conv., associate chaplain for faith development in the Office of Campus Ministry, led the group in a blessing. After instruction and safety tips provided by a representative from Casey Trees, the non-profit group that partners with the Cherry Blossom Festival program, the volunteers broke into 10 teams, each taking a tree to plant.
"It's great that the cherry blossom trees can be seen from the patio outside the Pryz (Edward J. Pryzbyla University Center)," says Suzana Saric, a senior civil engineering major with an environmental concentration and co-president of the University's Green Club. "That will be so nice for students, especially each spring when they are in full bloom. The tree planting is a great way to give back to future generations of CUA students."
Iris Miller, a lecturer in the School of Architecture and Planning who helped organize the event, says the planting was planned before the devastating March 11 earthquake and tsunami in Japan.
"Reflecting on what the people of Japan are going through makes this event more special and spiritual," said Miller, who travels each year to Japan with architecture students to study the Japanese culture and how it fits into design. Miller also serves on the CUA Campus Tree Advisory Committee and on the Japanese Embassy Committee for the Cherry Blossom Festival.
"The tree planting event accomplishes many things in addition to beautifying campus," says Chris Vetick, assistant director of grounds maintenance in CUA's Office of Facilities Maintenance and Operations, another sponsor of the event. "Through this student service learning project, we are celebrating the Cherry Blossom Festival, Arbor Day, and the upcoming Earth Day."
Following the tree planting, a luncheon for volunteers and sponsors was held at the Crough Center. Students, faculty, and staff were joined by representatives from the National Cherry Blossom Festival, the Japan-American Society of Washington, D.C., the Embassy of Japan as well as Randall Ott, dean of the School of Architecture and Planning.
