Grinning from ear to ear, Kate Reeder watched as the Senior Class Gift committee unveiled the Class of 2010's senior gift: the Marsh Meadow Boardwalk and Overlook at the Arboretum.
Reeder, the event and marketing coordinator for the arboretum, originally submitted the boardwalk idea to the gift committee, which announced the decision Tuesday morning in the HUB-Robeson Center.
"I don't think I can even express my joy," she said.
The boardwalk will serve as a connecting bridge to provide pedestrians with a view of the meadow's ecological wonders.
"This is really something that would bring great pleasure as the arboretum becomes a greater focal point on campus," said Executive Vice President and Provost Rodney Erickson.
The decision was made after more than 2,800 seniors cast their ballots last week in person and online. The arboretum project beat out the HUB Aquarium Maintenance Endowment and the Public Sculpture and Class of 2010 Endowed Scholarship. These three ideas were chosen from about 60 submitted ideas.
The sculpture and endowed scholarship came in second, and the aquarium endowment came in third. Alyssa Rosenblum (senior-marketing), senior class gift committee communications chairwoman, said she received good feedback from seniors who voted for the arboretum walkway.
"Seniors were excited about the arboretum because it was new, and I think that really affected the voting," Rosenblum said.
The money pledged by seniors, which is currently around $19,000, will pay for the boardwalk and overlook across the James J. and Lynn D. Ramage Marsh Meadow in The Arboretum at Penn State, a 370-acre living laboratory.
"The boardwalk will serve as a 'front door' for pedestrians entering the arboretum and contribute significantly to the arboretum's mission of scholarship, research and education of the natural landscape," said Mike Lampariello (senior-landscape architecture), senior class gift committee overall chairman.
University Park Undergraduate Association President Gavin Keirans said he thinks the senior class chose well.
"I think that out of the three options that this is the best one, because the arboretum is a new project and for the Class of 2010 to be involved is a new endeavor," Keirans said. "This is definitely the most unique option."
Students like Nicole Paladino (senior-mechanical engineering) are glad the arboretum is receiving the class gift.
"Everyone is still fascinated by the arboretum," Paladino said. "We can see the potential in it."
And those who work in the arboretum said they are glad to see that students are supporting it. Horticulturist Rick Johnson said he is excited to find that students were the project's second donors after a $10 million donation from Charles "Skip" Smith, Class of 1948.
"This is just the start of how the initial gift will inspire others to build upon it," Johnson said.
Reeder summarized her hopes for the arboretum quite simply.
"It will be a place of learning that also happens to be a beautiful place," she said.
