FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                          December 21, 2006

NORTHWESTERN PHYSICAL PLANT RECEIVES BEAUTIFICATION AWARD

            Northwestern Oklahoma State University Physical Plant employees have been honored by Keep Oklahoma Beautiful, Inc. and their fellow staff members for their campus beautification efforts.

            Northwestern placed first in the educational institutions category of the annual Environmental Excellence competition held annually by Keep Oklahoma Beautiful.

            The actual award was presented in Oklahoma City, along with other awards to local, county and state government organizations, non-profit organizations, businesses, youth groups and individuals who have made a difference in preserving and/or improving the environment.

            Northwestern’s entry cited the efforts to improve visual appeal of the campus through planting 44 trees purchased with funds from an Urban and Community Forestry Grant. The trees were placed on the east side of campus next to Highway 281, around Jesse Dunn, next to the entrance of Coronado Hall parking lot and at Ranger Field.

Other efforts including planting large flower pots with various flowering and vining plants and placing them at the entrances of seven buildings on campus, mulching existing flowerbeds, seeding areas of lawn and removing dead or dying tree branches.

            At a campus reception to honor the achievements of the Physical Plant, David Pecha, vice present for administration, noted the extensive workload of the department.

            The Physical Plant has 39 fulltime and eight part-time employees in addition to student workers. They are responsible for the upkeep (including custodial services) of 31 buildings at the Alva and Enid campuses and on the university farm. The grounds, not counting the farm, are comprised of 20 acres.

            In addition to the grounds beautification efforts, recent significant projects include updating the four residence halls and university cafeteria, expansion of the South Hall parking lot, installing a lawn sprinkler system, remodeling the nursing program’s Ketterman Lab in Enid, construction of a barn for university vans and removal of Oklahoma Hall and formation of a green space in that area.

            Major upcoming projects are the construction of the Woodward campus building and renovation of the Science and Physical Education buildings.

-NW-

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