Earth Day at BSU Celebrated at Peace Park

Ceremony Remembers Bulldogs Lost During Matriculation

 

MEDIA CONTACT: David Thompson, dlthompson@bowiestate.edu, 301-860-4311

(BOWIE, Md.) – Bowie State’s campus community came together on Earth Day for a ribbon cutting ceremony and rededication of Peace Park, a memorial site for students who unexpectedly lost their lives before finishing their BSU college careers. 

The Peace Park has undergone a major restoration in the last two years with the addition of trees, flowers and landscaping funded by a grant from the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay. Originally created by the Student Government Association in 2012 following the tragic death of a student on campus, Peace Park is a special place at BSU according to Jabari Walker, sustainability & energy coordinator. 

“Peace Park is a memorial space and provides an area for students, faculty, administrators, staff and even family members of those lost souls to meditate, remember and reflect,” he said. “I’m just very pleased that we were able to bring everyone together for the ceremony on Earth Day.” 

Earth Day is an annual celebration that honors the achievements of the environmental movement and raises awareness to protect Earth’s natural resources for future generations. The Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay’s participation in the Peace Park Earth Day event is representative of the organization’s ongoing partnership with Bowie State. 

“We’ve worked with the University for 8 years to provide scholarships for students to attend the Chesapeake Watershed Forum,” said Emma Gregory, program manager at Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay. “Students can also attend a seminar series on climate change, air quality, water quality and environmental justice.”  

Additionally, Gregory said the Alliance has a paid internship program to enable students to work part-time during the semester and full-time over the summer months to gain experience working in the environmental sector. 

“Peace Park has a totally different look from how it appeared 12 years ago which speaks to the University’s commitment and the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay’s ongoing support,” said Walker. 

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