Numerous New Mexico State University community members gathered and helped beautify campus during the first Earth Day event the Office of Experiential Learning’s Community Engagement and Outreach Program at New Mexico State University recently hosted in collaboration with Facilities and Services April 22.
Education Abroad Program Specialist Alice Delgado coordinated the event with Facilities and Services Manager Art Lucero and Executive Director Tim Dobson to organize the activities for students, faculty, staff and community members to plant trees, add bark mulch to flower beds, clean up the Aggie Health and Wellness Center’s meditation space and collect pine cones and pine needles throughout campus. One of the trees was planted at the Activity Center as a memorial for Amanda Murillo Gallegos, an NMSU student, who died during the 2022-2023 academic year.
“We would like to thank everyone that came out to celebrate Earth Day,” Lucero said. “The group was able to plant three trees, a crape myrtle in front of the Activity Center, a Chinese pistache in the green space behind the Frenger Food Court as well as one in front of the Kent Museum. Chinese pistache grows quickly in full sun to partial shade on moderately fertile, well-drained soils and will withstand heat and drought extremely well.”
Lucero indicated that the group collected 240 bags of pine cones and pine needles throughout the Las Cruces campus. The bark mulch was added to fill the empty flowerbeds in front of Gerald Thomas Hall.
“I am really proud of Alice for all of her hard work in putting this together and recruiting the volunteers. It was a great turnout with over 30 individuals along with OEL staff members, Alice, Daniel Montoya, Audria Lujan, Ignacio Alvarado, Callie Burrow, Chianna Lopez and myself participating in the inaugural event. We had administrators such as Ruth Johnston, Kim Allbright, Andy Bowen, NMSU Fire Department and Thomas Bunton also join the event,” said Patricia Leyba, Experiential Learning director.
Participants enjoyed lunch at Preciado Park and finished the day with a photo opportunity in front of Hadley Hall. The Office of Experiential Learning Community Engagement and Outreach Program can be contacted for volunteer opportunities at ceo@nmsu.edu.
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Written by Patricia Leyba
CUTLINE: New Mexico State University community members participated in the NMSU Office of Experiential Learning’s Community Engagement and Outreach Program’s first Earth Day event April 22, which was held in collaboration with Facilities and Services. (Courtesy photo)