NCWC Seeks Campus Beautification Volunteers

Rocky Mount, N.C.—Shovels and rakes will replace books and laptops in the hands of many NC Wesleyan College students, faculty and staff on the first two Saturdays in October. The Wesleyan community, along with other volunteers and local garden club members, will plant trees, shrubs and flowers in the first phase of a plan to beautify the Wesleyan campus.

“We want to improve the visual impression of our campus with flowers and landscaping and eventually some additional outdoor social areas,” said Wesleyan President James A. Gray III. “We have a beautiful 200-acre campus, but it’s very green, with a lot of pine trees and grass. We need some landscaping and color, especially around the entrance to the college and our fountain area.

“We’re proud of our academic programs, our renovated science labs, and our new library addition, so now we want our campus to look the part of the top-quality school that it is. When prospective students and others come to campus, we want to make a good impression visually as well as academically,” Gray said.Two pine trees in the median at the entrance to Wesleyanare being removed to make way for more attractive landscaping 

Plans for the beautification project began last summer when a task force chaired by biology professor Erica Kosal identified areas that need the most attention. The group decided to focus first on the college entrance along Highway 301, the median leading into the campus, and the fountain area. “The goal is to add much visual interest as people come to campus,” Kosal said. “As they drive through the main entrance, the campus should be inviting, exciting and warm. We hope students, faculty and staff will begin to use the benches around the fountain and enjoy the colors that will be present on the plants throughout the year.”

Tom Moss, a local landscape architect, designed a plan that incorporates 166 new trees, including crepe myrtles and various hollies, and 24 shrubs. Benches will be added to the fountain area in addition to landscaping, and mulch will be placed beneath trees in parking lot islands.

The planting effort on October 3 will focus on trees and shrubs. Perennials and annuals will be added October 10.

Members of the Rocky Mount High School Key Club already have volunteered to show their support for Wesleyan by planting on October 3. Other volunteers may sign up for either date by contacting Erica Kosal at ekosal@ncwc.edu or 252-985-5156.

Work will begin at 10 a.m. and last until about 4 p.m., with volunteers helping as they can. Volunteers should bring their own tools marked with their name. Refreshments will be provided.