Campus evaluated by blooming judges

Staff members in Utah State University Facilities Division, especially its Landscape Operations and Maintenance area, have been busily preparing for a visit by two judges whoevaluated the campus environment for the “America In Bloom” program.

The judges, Gerald Klingaman and Alex Pearl, were on campus Monday, July 26. Klingaman is a professor of horticulture at the University of Arkansas and Pearl is a vocational horticulture instructor at the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections Institute.

“America in Bloom” is an independent non-profit organization dedicated to promoting beautification program nationwide, as well as personal and community involvement in these efforts through the use of flowers, landscapes, trees and other environmental and lifestyle enhancements.

This is the first year that universities have been included in the “America In Bloom” competition. Utah State will be evaluated in eight areas – (1) tidiness effort, (2) environmental effort, (3) community involvement, (4) heritage, (5) urban forestry, (6) landscape areas, (7) floral displays and (8) turf and ground cover areas.

           Utah State’s effort in the program is coordinated by Ellen Newell, the university’s landscape manager. A judge’s report will be provided to Utah State and final awards will be presented this fall.

“The university’s environmental awareness is a strong point, and we can show our efforts with the shuttle bus system and the new heating plant,” Newell said. “Some of the criteria in the program do not match what we do as a university but we will emphasize how we hire student interns and work with various academic departments on campus.”

In addition to Utah State University, the city of Vernal is a participant in the program this year.