PRESS RELEASE: JANUARY 16, 2026

SJR State observes Arbor Day, celebrates Tree Campus USA status

Orange Park campus planting

Palatka campus planting

In keeping with its Tree Campus Higher Education status, St. Johns River State College continues its Florida Arbor Day Celebrations with plantings at all three campus locations.

The Palatka Campus hosted the 2026 Palatka Arbor Day Celebration in conjunction with the City of Palatka on Friday. The College was presented with a Live Oak tree.

The celebration included an introduction and welcome from Susan Sutliff, SJR State executive assistant to the president. The proclamation was given by UF/IFAS horticulture agent Julio Perez. Palmer Kinser of the Garden Club of Palatka provided comments regarding the importance of Arbor Day. Jesse Frazier, senior forester with the Florida Forest Service, provided free saplings.

Pastor Jekita Williams provided an inspirational message. “Today we celebrate more than trees, we celebrate life, hope and our responsibility to the future… Trees teach us resilience. They endure storms, adapt to change and continue to grow. Trees are powerful symbols of unity, with roots intertwined beneath the ground supporting one another, in the same way our community grows stronger when we face challenges together rooted in care, respect and shared responsibility,” Williams said. “The Bible also reminds us of planting and nurturing life. Arbor day reminds us that today is a time to plant, to invest in life, growth and the future. Every tree we plant today will offer shade for future generations to come - a living reminder that our community chose to invest in something greater than ourselves.”

The Orange Park and St. Augustine campuses also observed Florida’s Arbor Day celebration with the planting of Live Oak trees on campus.

Since 2013, SJR State has established certification as a Tree Campus USA college. To obtain this distinction, SJR State met the five core standards for sustainable campus forestry required by Tree Campus USA, including establishment of a tree advisory committee, evidence of a campus tree-care plan, dedicated annual expenditures for its campus tree program, an Arbor Day observance and the sponsorship of student service-learning projects.

The College first obtained its Tree Campus USA status, granted by the Arbor Day Foundation, by following more than a year of strategically planned efforts by faculty, staff and students. The College’s projects included preserving healthy, attractive and sustainable wooded vegetation on each campus, as well as conducting educational outreach efforts and service projects. For additional information and resources the college provides, visit https://www.sjrstate.edu/tree-campus.

According to the Florida Wildlife Federation, Arbor Day was established to celebrate the beauty of trees and their importance to our environment. In Florida, Arbor Day began in 1886, making it one of the first Arbor Day holidays in the nation. Officially, Florida Arbor Day is the third Friday in January, as our cooler months are the best times to plant trees.

PHOTOS FROM THE CEREMONIES ARE AVAILABLE ON FLICKR.

Florida’s Arbor Day celebration was observed with the planting of Live Oak trees on the St. Augustine campus.