Campus, community gathers for Earth Day celebration

Lamar University students, faculty and staff gathered this week to celebrate Earth Day with a mix of educational activities, entertainment and hands-on sustainability efforts.

The annual event featured free food, a DJ, yard games, sustainable giveaways and participation from community partners, along with involvement from the LU Green Squad.

"Earth Day continues to be an important opportunity for our campus community to come together and reflect on the impact we have on our environment," Azadeh Semien, LU Green Squad advisor said.

This year's programming emphasized both awareness and action, with attendees participating in educational activities aimed at promoting long-term environmental responsibility, highlighted by the planting of two oak trees on campus provided by Texas Best Lawn, Inc.

"While participation was slightly lower this year due to weather conditions, we still saw meaningful engagement and strong collaboration across departments and student organizations," Semien said. "It was encouraging to see attendees take an active role in supporting sustainability initiatives through volunteer efforts, educational activities and environmentally conscious practices."

Semien said the continued engagement reflects a broader commitment to sustainability across campus.

"These events serve as a reminder that sustainability is a shared responsibility, helping to foster a culture of environmental stewardship that extends beyond a single day and into our everyday actions," she said.

To learn more about sustainability efforts at Lamar University, visit https://www.lamar.edu/sustainability/volunteer/.