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One student organization is helping change the Frankfort and campus landscape – literally.

The Kentucky State University Green Society, a student service and education organization, has become an active partner in making the campus and community green.

Green Society’s staff advisor, Jennifer Hubbard-Sánchez, said the organization is active and engaged who participate in community and Kentucky State projects regularly.

“Some featured projects include the recent Earth Day invasive species removal event at Kentucky State’s Spring House, where 15 volunteers pulled over 12 trash bags of invasive garlic mustard from the site, reducing competition for native plant species in the area,” Hubbard-Sanchez.

Students have held small business fairs, Earth Day festivals and volunteer regularly at the Environmental Education Research Center for community events.

One of the largest projects the organization has been involved in is ReForest Frankfort.

“Kentucky State has been involved with ReForest Frankfort for many years and student volunteers have participated in the planting of thousands of trees in the Frankfort community since the annual event began a decade ago,” Hubbard-Sánchez said.

In 2015, the event was held on Kentucky State’s campus, where over 800 community volunteers planted over 2,500 seedlings on Cold Harbor Drive.

“The Green Society was vital in planning the event for over a year with local community leaders and various community partners,” Hubbard-Sánchez said.

Brandon Preece, a Green Society past president (2017-18), said his time with the Green Society has been fantastic.

“My involvement with the Green Society has been a life-changing experience for me,” Preece said. “Not only have I been able to gain a wealth of practical experience while doing positive work, but I have also made several lifelong friends along the way.”

Green Society membership it open and free to all Kentucky State students, including full-time, part-time, graduate and undergraduate members of the campus community. Students interested in joining or getting more information about the group can contact Mccoun at megan.mccoun@kysu.edu, Hubbard-Sánchez at jennifer.sanchez@kysu.edu, or faculty advisor Dr. Shawn Lucas at shawn.lucas@kysu.edu. Meetings are held weekly, starting again in late August 2018. Meeting dates and times will be determined when the fall semester begins via a poll of membership.