Beautification & Landscaping

THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA
The University's chant describes "a campus beautiful by day and night," but that's not exactly how you would have described patches of Oklahoma Bermuda, ugly bicycle racks and the ragged flowerbeds which marked the Norman campus prior to 1995. It was then that President David Boren and his wife Molly arrived with a spectacular vision for OUincluding giving the university its own "central park." With Molly Boren as their cheerleader, the OU landscape department set out to create it.

The result has been a nearly unbelievable makeover! Today, you'll find new gardens, sculptures, 232 new benches, thousands of new trees, historical markers on buildings, crimson phone booths, a 2500 square foot Italian fountain and tons of Stigler stone. The incredible changes to the campus have many layers of benefits. The aesthetic benefits are obvious. The gorgeous campus is a boon to student and donor recruiting. But the Borens feel probably the greatest benefit is educational. OU students will understand the importance of beautiful greenspaces and will feel more inclined to work for and protect them wherever they might live in the world. THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA - BEAUTIFUL BY DAY AND NIGHT AND CERTAINLY GOOD NEWS FOR OKLAHOMA'S ENVIRONMENT!
 

Education & Promotion

MEDFORD PUBLIC SCHOOLS
And the wavin' wheat can sure smell sweetmust have been written about the town of Medford, located on a flat prairie in north central Oklahoma surrounded by miles and miles of wheat land. Hardly an acre can be found that still supports the native flora and fauna a situation which Ed Grover, Medford High School science teacher, says pointed up the need for a way to instill in young people a sense of natural wonder and a responsibility for protecting the environment.

The result of Grover's persistence, students' big dreams, the cooperation of the Medford community, the generosity of local businesses and assistance from several state agencies has been the completion of the "College Heights Refuge." This magnificent outdoor classroom is complete with a 1 _ acre pond, four sets of hills, four separate habitat areas and walking trails. From the first dreams of its possibilities to its satisfying reality, the process has been an invaluable multi-discipline experience for the students, teachers, and community volunteers. MEDFORD PUBLIC SCHOOLS' OUTDOOR CLASSROOM - GREAT NEWS FOR OKLAHOMA'S ENVIRONMENT!
 

Environmental Improvement

DUSTIN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Dustin is a small rural community located in the Creek nation of eastern Oklahoma and has population of about 550. Dustin School, grades K-12 is comprised of only 153 students. Starting in November of 1998, the school's science teacher, Jennifer Watson Marlow initiated a community-wide paper recycling program that's had remarkable results. In an area without any local recycling programs, facilities or incentive, the program has already diverted more than five tons of waste paper from the landfill to the Ft. James Paper Company saving waste disposal costs and preserving resources.

Other lasting effects of the program will be to teach children the importance of recycling and waste reduction, create a school and community atmosphere that facilitates recycling and change lifestyle habits to include environmental awareness. The project so far has elicited the cooperation of a multitude of agencies, local businesses, community volunteers and of course Dustin students. DUSTIN PAPER RECYCLING - A FINE FINE EXAMPLE OF GOOD NEWS FOR OKLAHOMA'S ENVIRONMENT!

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