The Georgia Urban Forest Council (GUFC), a nonprofit organization with the mission of sustaining Georgia’s green legacy by helping communities grow healthy trees, presented its 2014 Excellence in Urban Forestry Awards Program on October 22 at the Classic Center in Athens, Georgia.  This annual awards program rewards individuals and organizations for outstanding work in protecting and enhancing our community forests.  One Grand Award was given to each of the following categories:  Business, Civic Organization, Education, Greenspace, Media, New Initiative, Streetscape Revitalization, Student, Individual Achievement, and Judges’ Choice.  ­­­­­­­­­­­­­Each award recipient received a framed print of the Athens “Tree That Owns Itself,” from an original painting by artist Barry Nehr, commissioned for GUFC.  Savannah’s Bethesda Academy received the Outstanding New Initiative Grand Award for the preservation of its historic, 100-plus year old trees and raising awareness of the environmental and educational benefits they bring.  The Savannah Tree Foundation nominated Bethesda Academy for this award.

“Bethesda Academy’s work in preserving and protecting such grand and historic trees is very inspiring,” said Mary Lynne Beckley, Executive Director of the Georgia Urban Forest Council.  “With this tree preservation project, we commend them for being an outstanding role model for their students and for the community.”