Establishing sustainability roots

Martin Baylor, UTRGV’s executive vice president for Finance and Administration, holds the Tree Campus USA plaque in commemoration of the university being recognized by Tree Campus USA Oct. 22 on the Edinburg campus’ Chapel lawn. Lesley Robles/The Rider.

Edinburg Assistant City Manager Sonia Marroquin (fourth from left), UTRGV Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration Martin Baylor and McAllen Mayor Jim Darling hold plaques in honor of UTRGV being recognized as a 2014 Tree Campus USA university for its commitment to urban forest management and for engaging the campus community in environmental stewardship. Lesley Robles/The Rider.

UTRGV students and faculty and members of the Brownsville City Commission plant a tree on the Main lawn during the recognition ceremony for the university as a Tree Campus USA. Michelle Espinoza/The Rider.

Marta Salinas-Hovar, associate vice president for Facilities and Operations, holds up the Tree Campus USA plaque awarded to the UT Rio Grande Valley by the Arbor Day Foundation during Campus Sustainability Day observed Thursday in Brownsville. UTRGV is one of three universities selected as a finalist in the Tree Campus USA Service Learning Contest by a committee from the foundation. Voting to select the winning campus begins today and ends Friday. The public is encouraged to vote once a day by visiting www.arborday.org/vote. Michelle Espinoza/The Rider.