A-State To Celebrate Earth Day Theme “Think Global, Act Local”
JONESBORO —Arkansas State University, area school children and the Jonesboro community will come together to “Think Global, Act Local” in celebration of 2015 Earth Day, Wednesday, April 22, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Festivities will be at the west side of the Carl R. Reng Student Union near the fountain.
The formal Earth Day program gets underway at 11:30 a.m. with KASU’s Johnathan Reaves serving as emcee. Dr. Lynita Cooksey, Arkansas State provost, will welcome the crowd, followed by remarks from Shaun Merrell, director of the Forrest L. Wood Crowley’s Ridge Nature Center. KAIT-TV plans to broadcast live its midday weather segment from 11-11:30 a.m.
Signs marking Arkansas State as a bicycle friendly university will be on display.
Vendors will set up booths beginning at 9:30 a.m., displaying a variety of informational items. Exhibitors include the A-State Stormwater Committee, Marine Biology Club, ELF car from the College of Sciences and Mathematics Dean’s Office, A-State Wildlife Club, Environmentors, Textbook Brokers and the Wolf Book Store.
Other booths are Harmony Gardens, Allscapes, Mid-South Nursery and Greenhouse, Honda of Jonesboro, Central Toyota-Scion, Cavanaugh Ford, Central Toyota, USDA Delta Water Management Unit, Suddenlink, Marck Industries, Inc., Clean Solutions, Irby Electric, Jonesboro Economic Transit System (JETS), Arkansas Health Department, Abilities Unlimited and Goodwill.
Door prizes of gift cards and other items are provided by a variety of local merchants including Hays, Walmart, Dixie Café, Cookies and More, Old Navy, Neebo Book Store, Firehouse Subs, Malco and others. However, participants must be present to win.
Sodexo, Frito-Lay, and Coca-Cola Bottling Co. are providing free food, and Irby Electric is furnishing the grill and chef.
Area school children from Brookland Elementary, Valley View, Westside High School, Jonesboro Health/Wellness & Environmental Studies Magnet School, Nettleton EAST and Riverside will be on hand for the celebration. The Lorax, a character from Dr. Seuss’ book about the environment, will be in attendance.
A living memorial of Earth Day 2015 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, planting, and recognition on a plaque to be placed near the trees.
Charitable gifts should be made payable to the ASU 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 brainchild 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.
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