By Elaine Bonilla / se news editor
SE Campus has been working at beautifying the campus and having a master gardener on staff.
Lead groundskeeper Marc Villanueva has taken the 14-week class to become certified as a master gardener.
“It’s a pretty intense little program,” Villanueva said. “We meet once a week for eight hours a day, and we still have to log in volunteer hours.”
While volunteering, each person is paired with and learns from a master gardener mentor.
SE president William Coppola said Villanueva has done much to create an enjoyable environment.
“The crew is amazing, and they take such pride in what they do to make the place appealing,” Coppola said.
One of the most important issues Villanueva has learned is about plants that thrive in Texas weather.
“You don’t want to plant a thirsty little plant that won’t do well in this heat, and you learn to recognize plants that will do well,” he said.
Villanueva is in charge of the landscaping on SE.
“I told him to make whatever decisions necessary to make the campus as beautiful as possible, and he ran with it,” Coppola said. “He created the beautiful flower beds at every entrance. He has really added a lot of color to the campus.”
The SE Campus culinary arts program is also starting a culinary garden with Villanueva’s help.
“I told Katrina Warner [culinary arts coordinator] I wanted to help with whatever they want me to help with,” he said.
Villanueva also has introduced plants inside.
“We have this huge building, which is like a mall setting, where you have to walk through to get to most of your classes,” he said.
About a year ago, the library removed its silk plants and replaced them with live plants at Villanueva’s urging. Klemm said she jumped at the opportunity because she has read articles that mention a connection between plants and learning.
In the spring, the library staff constantly notices classes meeting outside on the big green lawn outside the library window. Klemm said the best part about the outside area in front of the library is the rabbits that live behind the bushes.
“It’s nice to see students sit back by the windows and watch the rabbits,” Klemm said. “Without his hard work on our campus’ landscaping, I don’t think the rabbits would still be here.”
