Page TitleWKCTC Receives Arbor Day Foundation Grant; Volunteers Invited to April 20 Tree Planting/Giveaway Event During Earth Day Week

West Kentucky Community and Technical College (WKCTC) has received a $21,000 grant from the Arbor Day Foundation, supported by corporate partner AES Energy, to expand the local tree canopy through a campus tree‑planting project and community tree giveaway.

Community members are invited to participate in the grant-funded Tree Planting Volunteer Event on Monday, April 20, 2026, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on the main campus of WKCTC, at 4810 Alben Barkley Drive in Paducah, Kentucky. The event takes place during the college Earth Day activities week, which features programs focused on sustainability, conservation, and environmental education.

The volunteer participation will begin with an indoor tree‑planting seminar at 8:30 a.m. in Waller Hall at WKCTC, followed by outdoor planting and mulching activities across the campus from 9:00 a.m. to noon.  Lunch will be provided for volunteers, and the event will conclude with a community tree giveaway at the campus nature trail, where participants will have the opportunity to take home a tree to plant.

“Hosting this event during Earth Day week emphasizes that tree planting is not symbolic; it is essential infrastructure for healthy communities,” said Dr. Anna Vaughn‑Doom, Assistant Professor of Biology at WKCTC. 

The project includes the planting of 52 trees on campus and the distribution of 50 trees to community members. Trees are among the most effective and affordable tools for reducing extreme heat, improving air quality, managing storm water, and strengthening long‑term community resilience.

“Volunteer‑driven projects like this strengthen both our environment and our sense of shared responsibility,” said Dr. Anton Reece, President/CEO of WKCTC. “WKCTC is a proud partner of the Arbor Day Foundation; this project is made possible by partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation and AES Energy.”

Volunteer registration is required; the deadline to register is 12:00 noon Saturday, April 18th.  individuals may sign up online at https://forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=UTnj8sQeckyyv6T0Zx1krx4YDTFUqVBMv6gbtCxPgURUMlczSjE3VUpRQ1EzWlJBR0RDS1dBWFJXTy4u&route=shorturl, or by calling/emailing Dr. Vaughn-Doom at (270) 534-3230 or anna.vaughndoom@kctcs.ecu.