By Jasmyn Genchev

TPA may have outstanding academics, however most can’t say the same for its campus. It may not be the cleanest or the prettiest out there, making it safe to say that the campus is the most diminishing factor about TPA in general. However, this year National Honor Society and the Environmental Club have united to try and solve this ongoing problem.

The idea first came up last year as senior and NHS President Abby Everding was watering the garden. It suddenly occurred to her that day that a multi-club collaborative effort led by NHS to beautify the campus would be a great way to get students engaged in bettering the school. Abby soon shared her enlightening idea to the Environmental Club founder, Marisa Bennett, discussing nothing but agreement regarding the topic.

Marisa thought that the idea to beauty the campus would hopefully make it “more sustainable and environmentally friendly and ultimately make the campus more appealing so that students would take the initiative to continue to keep the campus clean.” Both Abby and Marisa are sure that the project will be very beneficial for the school in that it will not only make the campus cleaner but it will also promote environmental friendliness and sustainable habits as well as set responsible examples for the rising generations of TPA.

Marisa believes that the project will be beneficial for not only the school, but also on a much larger scale, explaining that “with current issues of global warming on the forefront, having a community knowledgeable about how to recycle, to take care of plants, and so forth will create a generation better prepared to tackle environmental problems.”

As far as plans go, the NHS and Environmental Club bake sale fundraiser and donation drives have already been in the works to help buy flowers to plant around campus. However, another drive will need to be held to cover the cost of dirt and possible trees to plant as well.

Abby has also mentioned other plans in progress, such as holding campus clean-up days and even possibly involving the Art Club to help clean and paint the wall next to the bathrooms. Abby plans to launch the flower project as soon as possible depending on future funding. According to Abby, these other projects will hopefully be less expensive because they are mostly volunteer work projects and should only require materials we already have.

Speaking of volunteer opportunities, anyone participating in NHS should listen up. As most projects are going to be exclusive for NHS and collaborating clubs depending on the project, volunteering for this project is not only a great way to help the campus, but will also of course serve as NHS hours.

Marisa says that “apart from the beautification campaign is to bring the community together. Volunteering, I believe, will help make this project even more impactful.” Abby even says that some projects such as the campus clean-up days will most likely be open to the entire student body.

So far the project has been very collaborative, between NHS and the Environmental Club. However, Abby says that she had “proposed this project as kind of a general school project idea so that other clubs/students could come up with their own ways to contribute to the project.” Having a cleaner campus will make school more enjoyable and hopefully instill “goodness” by promoting habits of cleanliness and “beauty,” creating an environmentally aware community committed to preserving and enhancing the campus for the future.