The University of Kentucky’s Lewis Honors College hosted Plant for the Planet, an event that gave students the chance to participate in making an impact on the campus environment.

Students were able to plant tree saplings and learn how to get involved with the environment at the Alumni Drive Traffic Island on Wednesday, April 2.

Senior lecturer at the Lewis Honors College and event organizer, Kenton Sena, said there are many benefits to planting and having trees throughout the community’s environment.

“They (trees) help to process stormwater, and they help to create a habitat for wildlife, and they purify the air and all these kinds of things,” Sena said. “By expanding our campus forest, we’re increasing those benefits.”

Sena said seeing the kids he has for classes being able to apply what they learned in a real-life situation is something he enjoys seeing.

“I hope that students participating today will feel empowered to make meaningful and lasting environmental change in their own communities and the places where they live and work and play,” Sena said.

According to Sena, there is a lot a person can do to make an impact on the environment, such as planting a garden or leaving a small section of the yard available for native plants to grow.

“You could plant a tree at your house or even in your neighborhood,” Sena said.“There’s lots of opportunities.”

Junior political science and history major, Zachary McComas, said he has done things at home to help the environment, such as growing a vegetable garden and planting wildflowers and native plants.

McComas said he has also participated in other planting events, saying he enjoys knowing he is making a difference.

“I really like sticking around and feeling like we’re making an impact on the earth,” McComas said.

Junior marketing, environmental and sustainability studies major Kaylee Bliss said she decided to attend the event after enjoying the one held previously in 2024.

“I feel like I’m making an impact, and the trees that we plant now will probably be here 20 years from now,” Bliss said. “I’ll come back and visit and I can say that it’s something that I contributed.”

Bliss said the area the trees were planted in has a lot of water and erosion.

According to the Heart Of England Forest website, trees can help reduce erosion because their roots bind the soil, as well as help control runoff from rain water and slow down high winds.

“They help take away CO2 from the air, and they also help make the campus feel more homey and more involved in nature,” Bliss said.

Tyler Tungate, who works with Ecogro, the environmental consultant for the event, assisted with prep work and assisted students with planting trees, saying he was happy to see students get involved with something they care about.

“Getting people out here, hands-on, having them put trees in the dirt themselves, rather than just be removed from it,” Tungate said. “It’s great for people to have a hands-on environmental day like this.”

According to Tungate, one of the best aspects of the event is putting native tree species in the environment and helping people with a similar passion.

“Do it for yourself,” Tungate said. “Nature will appreciate it no matter what kind of event you’re doing it for.”