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Dana Urrutia, 678-495-3638
durrutia@gwinnetttech.edu

February 20, 2009

Gwinnett Tech Named Tree Campus USA by Arbor Day Foundation

Preserving its 'community forest' is top priority for GTC

The Arbor Day Foundation has designated Gwinnett Technical College as a Tree Campus USA, recognizing the college for its dedication to campus forestry management and environmental stewardship.

Gwinnett Tech is the third college or university in Georgia to be named a Tree Campus USA institution.

"Preserving our campus 'community forest' is a priority for us," says Sharon Bartels, president, Gwinnett Tech. "We're already at work on our Gwinnett Trees Count project, made possible through the Georgia Forestry Commission, to make our on-campus natural resources more accessible and available to the community. Our designation as a Tree Campus USA is another vital step toward that goal."

John Rosenow, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation, explains, "The Tree Campus USA program will have a lasting impact at Gwinnett Technical College because it will engage students and local citizens to plant trees and create healthier communities for people to enjoy for generations to come. Gwinnett will benefit from better tree-care practices on campus, and it will help connect the college with tree-care professionals in their community to improve the tree canopy in Lawrenceville."

Gwinnett Tech met the required five core standards of tree care and community engagement to receive Tree Campus USA recognition. Those standards are establishing a campus tree advisory committee; evidence of a campus tree-care plan; verification of dedicated annual expenditures on the campus tree-care plan; involvement in Arbor Day observance; and institution of service-learning projects aimed at engaging the student body.

GTC offers an associate of applied science degree and a diploma in Environmental Horticulture, as well as a host of certificate programs for garden center technician, greenhouse technician, horticulture installation technician, landscape design technician, and site planning and analysis.

In addition to Environmental Horticulture, Gwinnett Tech offers more than 45 degree, diploma and certificate program options. For more information, visit www.GwinnettTech.edu.
Get the latest news about Gwinnett Tech: http://www.gwinnetttech.edu/news

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About Gwinnett Tech
Gwinnett Technical College, one of Georgia's largest technical colleges, is committed to delivering relevant knowledge to meet the workforce training needs of its community. The college offers more than 50 associate degree, diploma and certificate programs and hundreds of seminars, workshops and courses providing specialized training. GTC is Gwinnett County's largest provider of corporate training and now serves residents and businesses in north Fulton County. Gwinnett Technical College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award the associate degree. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097,404-679-4500, www.sacscoc.org for questions about the accreditation of Gwinnett Technical College. For more information, visit www.GwinnettTech.edu.

A unit of the Technical College System of Georgia.