Penn State Mont Alto Arboretum Holds Dedication Ceremony
6/12/2006 —
Mont Alto – Penn State Mont Alto held a Dedication Ceremony on April 30 to recognize individuals honored with Founder’s Trees, Commemorative Trees, and Gardens in the Penn State Mont Alto Arboretum.
The Penn State Mont Alto Arboretum, established by the Pennsylvania Forest Academy, is a living, historic collection and outdoor classroom that exists to promote the aesthetic, educational, and research value of woody plants for present and future generations.
Benefactors were encouraged to donate a tree or garden to the arboretum to enhance the beauty of the campus and to serve as a learning tool for students studying forest technology. Many chose to honor loved ones by donating trees in their names.
The Dedication Ceremony honored individuals and groups who were honored with trees and gardens in the arboretum over the past two years. Honorees were recognized by Penn State Mont Alto Chancellor Dr. David Gnage and Forest Technology faculty Craig Houghton and Beth Brantley, as well as members of the Arboretum Advisory Council. Penn State Mont Alto forest technology students helped plant the trees and gave guided tours of the arboretum.
Among those honored were Eleanor N. “Beeb” Good and John C. “Jack” Good, of Chambersburg. They were each honored with Founder’s Trees by their good friend Dr. John Pursley. Jack and Beeb have endowed a scholarship at Penn State Mont Alto and have provided significant support for the Penn State Mont Alto nursing program. Jack serves on the Penn State Mont Alto Advisory Board.
Rex E. Melton, of Pennsylvania Furnace, was honored by his former students with a Founder’s Tree. Melton was an instructor of forestry at Mont Alto from 1947-1951. He retired from Penn State in 1988 as Professor Emeritus of Forestry. Melton and his late wife, Margie, were both honored with Commemorative Trees by their children Dawn, Kay, Karen, and Rex Jr. for their love of Penn State Mont Alto.
Others honored with Commemorative Trees were Robert W. Bauer, Kenton and Audrey Broyles, George J. Bugyi, Corrinne Caldwell, The Class of 1972, The Class of 1973, Johanna Ezell, LeRoy Frontz, M. Eileen Graham, James B. Ingram, The Kiwanis Club of Chambersburg, Elizabeth Koontz, Ruth Kristine, Michael Labalokie, Stephen J. Neale, Craig and Page Nitterhouse, Pierson H. Reasner, Robert H. Rumler, Donald R. Scott, Paul Shogren, Gary Lee Smith, Jr., Robert G. Spencer, Oscar C. Tissue, Christopher W. Twigg, and Frank Wawrynovic.
During the ceremony, several individuals were surprised by their families with Commemorative Trees. James C. Nelson was honored by his wife, Iris, and Donald W. Yost, Jr. and Carrie E. Yost were honored by their daughters Pat and Susan Yost. David R. Monn was honored with a Commemorative Tree for his dedication to the reorganization and preservation of the Penn State Mont Alto Archives. The friends of Donald R. “Moose” Craul established a Commemorative Tree in his memory.
Individuals honored with Arboretum Gardens were also recognized at the dedication. They included George N. Payette, Paul E. White, Edwin A. and Rebecca M. Ziegler, and the families of David Bittinger and David S. Monn.
The Penn State Mont Alto Arboretum is still in an early stage of development, with a number of opportunities for benefactors with interest in this project. Donors can support the arboretum or honor loved ones with donations of Founder’s Trees, Commemorative Trees, or Arboretum Gardens.
The arboretum provides a unique opportunity to leave a lasting legacy for future generations, as well as a powerful way to honor those with a love of Penn State and the study of Forestry. If you would like more information about providing a tree for the arboretum, you can contact Deb Creager at 717-749-6110.
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