A little (ok, a lot) of precipitation and cold wasn’t about to stop Northeast Ohio Medical University from celebrating Arbor Day Friday, April 30. Though it rained for most of the day, first-year College of Medicine student Tyler Bontrager joined a team to plant a yellow poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera) supplied by Davey Tree Company. 

Davey also provided equipment and personnel to plant the tree in the south lawn area, near building C. 

In March, NEOMED marked its fourth year of being honored in Tree Campus Higher Education Recognition by the Arbor Day Foundation for “commitment to effective urban forest management.” Jerry Bergstrom, supervisor of the physical plant for Campus Operations, oversees the planting and care of NEOMED’s trees. 

Bontrager participated in the Arbor Day planting through a Tree Campus USA service learning project, which teaches the importance of trees to our environment and well-being. Tree Campus service learning projects are open to any interested NEOMED medicine, pharmacy or graduate student. 

Photo (left to right): Tyler Bontrager, College of Medicine student; Davey Tree employee Blake Bailey; NEOMED groundskeeper Nick Arbogast; Davey Tree employee Justin Stefan; Davey Tree crew manager Eric Phillips.