A-State to Celebrate Earth Day April 22
JONESBORO — Arkansas State University’s community will join others from around the world in celebration of Earth Day, Friday, April 22. Activities and vendors will be stationed west of the Carl R. Reng Student Union near the fountain. In the event of rain, the event will move to the first floor of the Dean B. Ellis Library.
A-State’s 10th Earth Day program gets underway at 10 a.m. and runs through 1:30 p.m. KASU’s Johnathan Reaves will once again serve as emcee.
Complimentary hot dogs, chips and drinks, donated by Sodexo, Frito-Lay, Coca-Cola Bottling Co. and Textbook Brokers are available. Door prizes, donated by area businesses, will be presented throughout the event.
Featured speakers, beginning at 11 a.m., are Dr. John Pratte, dean of the College of Sciences and Mathematics and professor of physics; Tim Bowers of Nestlé; and David Daulton of Unilever. Reaves will conduct interviews with the speakers in addition to vendors and Johnson Controls.
Vendors will set up booths and display projects beginning at 9 a.m., showing a variety of informational items. Exhibitors include Irby Electric, Marck Industries, Inc., Johnson Controls, Gearhead Outfitters and A-State organizations including the stormwater committee, Wildlife Club, Natural History Collections Curation Club (NHC3), EnvironMentors, Marine Biology Club, Pre-Dental Club, Society of Physics Club, American Chemistry Society and Facilities Maintenance recycling program and tree donations.
In addition, sessions for walking and biking are available to A-State faculty members, staff and students. The bicycle ride is from 12-12:30 p.m., while the walk is from 12:30-1 p.m. Participants should report to the HPESS Complex, Room 112, and pick up an Earth Day water bottle as long as supplies last. For more information, contact Spencer Bradley at (870) 972-3974 or through email at sbradley@AState.edu.
A living memorial of Earth Day 2016 is a focal point of the event, with the tree planting on the A-State campus. The site is located near the overpass of the Marion Berry Parkway, and donations for trees will continue throughout the Earth Day events. A $200 contribution will sponsor a tree, its planting and recognition on a plaque to be placed near the trees.
Charitable gifts should be made payable to the A-State Foundation (reference “Facilities-Earth Day Account”). Checks may be delivered or mailed to Advancement Services in the Cooper Alumni Center (P.O. Box 1990, State University, AR 72467) or presented to the A-State Earth Day booth.
For more information contact Jennifer Bouldin, associate professor of environmental biology, (jbouldin@astate.edu) or call (870) 972-2570.
The observance of Earth Day is the idea of San Francisco activist John McConnell and Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson. Both had an interest in environmental issues. In 1970, each requested Americans join in a grassroots demonstration. McConnell chose March 21 (the spring equinox) and Nelson selected April 22. Millions of people participated, and today Earth Day continues to be widely celebrated with events on both dates. The most common form of celebration is to plant new trees for Earth Day.
