Published on February 27, 2019 by Sarah Cain  
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The SHADE initiative, launched by Samford University President Andrew Westmoreland and SGA President James Hornsby, has continued to replenish the tree population on campus.  The initiative first launched in fall 2018 after recognizing several trees had been cut down in recent years due to drought and disease.  It has since raised nearly $30,000 to fund 250 new trees on campus this academic year.  On Feb. 26, volunteers gathered at more than 10 locations across campus to plant trees.

For junior Emily Thorington, donating and volunteering with SHADE represented an investment in how she hopes people will experience the campus in the future.

"I love the trees on campus. My grandpa grew up in Birmingham and told me about the trees so I wanted to be able to contribute to the trees while I was here," she said.

The total fundraising goal for the project is $50,000. Donations can be made online or by contacting Karen Templeton, 205-726-4580.

 
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 5,791 students from 49 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks 6th nationally for its Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.