April 28, 2017
East Texas Baptist University students celebrated Arbor Day with the planting of three dogwood trees in the Grove area of ETBU's campus on April 28, the 145th celebration of Arbor Day.
Founded in 1972, the Arbor Day Foundation has grown to become the largest nonprofit membership organization dedicated to planting trees, with more than one million members, supporters, and value partners. During the last 44 years, more than 25 million Arbor Day Foundation trees have been planted in neighborhoods, communities, cities and forests throughout the world.
"ETBU has a vision which aligns with the Arbor Day Foundation to help others understand and use trees as a solution to many of the global issues we face today, including air quality, water quality, climate change, deforestation, poverty and hunger," ETBU President J. Blair Blackburn said. "We want our student to understand the story of God's creation and our responsibility to care for the Earth, as well as steward all that God created in it and up on it."
As one of the world's largest operating conservation foundations, the Arbor Day Foundation, through its members, partners and programs to educate and engage stakeholders and communities across the globe to involve students in the mission of planting, nurturing and celebrating trees.
ETBU selected three dogwood trees because of these particular trees Christian symbolism. Traditionally, dogwoods represent the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ and represent the purity found through Christian Salvation.
"These trees symbolize who and what we stand for as a University," ETBU Student Body President Reid Adams said. "When Dr. Blackburn mentioned bringing my grandkids back to see what we planted today, I realized that no matter where life takes me ETBU will always be home. My roots are planted here just like these trees."