Students at Mount Saint Mary College recently planted a tree on campus – the culmination of a semester-long Natural Sciences project – representing the class of 2026.
The project gave the students an opportunity to learn through hands-on, real world experience. They worked collaboratively with the college’s grounds crew, studied the type of trees appropriate for the campus, and raised money to purchase the tree and an accompanying dedication plaque via a popcorn fundraiser.
The new Red Oak is now located in front of the college’s Dominican Center.
The project involved students from the classes of Suparna Bhalla, associate professor of Biology, and Lynn Maelia, professor of Chemistry.
“There’s a cohesion between Biology and Chemistry and we are constantly making connections” between the two subjects, she explained. “The students, they get a lot out of it.”
She added, “Our hope is, when they come for their reunions, they’ll come to visit their tree. We hope to do this every year.”
Fr. Gregoire Fluet, the Mount’s director of Campus Ministry and Chaplain, was on-hand to give a blessing before the students and members of the grounds completed the planting.