Delaware Valley University has received a $4,000 grant from The GIANT Company and Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful to promote tree planting on its campus. The funding is part of the 2025 Healing the Planet grant program.
The initiative was led by faculty member Joe Theesfeld and his Basic Plant Management Course, which primarily includes first-year students. As part of their hands-on learning experience, students planted 18 native fruit-bearing trees near the retention basin beside the Admission Cottage and Entrance.
The newly planted trees include 10 pawpaw and eight serviceberry varieties, both native to Pennsylvania. The trees were purchased from Chris Uhland, a Delaware Valley University alumnus who serves as president of operations and business development at Harmony Hill Nursery.
“This project was a meaningful opportunity for our students to put their learning into practice in a way that truly matters,” said Joe Theesfeld. “It gave first-year students an opportunity to get their hands dirty and learn the science and the practice all in one project.”
The GIANT Company and Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful have provided nearly $120,000 in grants to support 37 tree planting projects across Pennsylvania. Native trees are important for local ecosystems because they support wildlife, reduce erosion, and require less maintenance than non-native species. Tree planting also contributes to community appearance and safety, with potential benefits for long-term economic development.