Monte San Giorgio
My heart pounds, my legs shake, I feel every breath. One step at a time, I slowly ascend. The sound of falling water echoes in the distance. Mud cakes my boots and
hinders the footing. Gripping my walking stick, I press on as the salty droplets cool my core; I push through the ebbing exhaustion.
The air is thinning slightly. I draw a slow, refreshing breath.
Rare blue bells catch my eye. They periodically sprinkle the landscape with a splash of color. A glimpse of the scenery peeks through the deciduous trees. Climbing out onto the jetting rocks, Lake Lugano in Canton Ticino lays before me. It glistens as the afternoon sun glances off the surface. Lugano is picturesque from the heights of Monte San Giorgio. This historic mountain resides in the southern reaches of Switzerland near the Italian border. Monte Lema and the Alpine Chain set the backdrop for the scene that unfolds. As I turn to my right, Monte Generoso comes into view and to my left lays the Lombardy Plain.
The pyramid-shaped Monte San Giorgio is wedged between the two southern sections of Lake Lugano: Porto Ceresio and Riva San Vitale, from which my climb began. Monte San Giorgio towers 1,096.7 meters above sea level. It rises 826 m directly from the lake, but this remarkable mountain is famed for more than its beautiful, yet challenging hike.
On July 2, 2003, Monte San Giorgio was inducted to the World Heritage List. It is one of seven properties that Switzerland has proudly inscribed on the list.
Monte San Giorgio was selected for conservation because of the rich historical resources imprinted on it.
The Swiss Mountain is recognized as the paramount fossil record of marine life from the Triassic Period. It provides detailed evidence of the diverse life that existed there approximately 230 to 245 million years ago. Many of the very rocks in which these fossils are set are 350 million years old.
These exceptionally well-preserved fossils illustrate the evolution and development of Triassic marine and terrestrial life. They reveal a tropical lagoon environment that was separated from the open sea by an offshore reef. It was home to a sundry of species: reptiles, fish, echinoderms, and crustaceans, to name a few. According to the World Heritage List, of the over 10,000 fossil remains that have been discovered at the site, there are 30 species of marine and terrestrial reptiles, 80 species of fish, and several hundreds of invertebrate species and plants (United Nations Educational, Cultural, and Scientific Organization, 2008). In addition, according to Mendrissioto Tourism, 550 species of fungi have been discovered as well as three species of spiders.
Some of the more prominent selections of these discoveries can be viewed at the Fossil Museum in Meride and the paleontology museums in Zurich and Lugano.
Monte San Giorgio is not only a member of the World Heritage List, but it is also protected by many local and regional measures under cantonal law. In 2001, in accordance with the Protected Areas Scheme, cantonal law on nature protection designated the whole mountain a Landscape Protection Zone. In March 2002, the cantonal law on nature protection was passed.
The excavation of these fossils has been conducted for over 100 years, specifically facilitated by university and museum personnel. These studies have produced one of the most well cataloged sites in the world and according to the World Heritage List, it is, “an invaluable reference point for Middle Triassic marine fauna as comparable sites are being uncovered in southern China,” (United Nations Educational, Cultural, and Scientific Organization, 2008).
As descended from the heights of the mountain, I jogged to keep my balance. I tried to keep up with the momentum to avoid injury. The sound of rushing water grew louder until it reached a dull roar. As I turned the corner, the falls were revealed. Carefully I crossed the water’s path. The cold mountain water passed over my feet. I dipped my hands in it. Feeling rejuvenated, I jogged the final mile. The sights of Monte San Giorgio playing through my head, a sight that will be preserved not only in my memories, but also in the southern reaches of Switzerland towering above Lake Lugano. This significant mountain will remain for those who come and explore its challenges, view the awe-inspiring sights, learn about themselves, or learn from what the mountain itself has to offer.
COMMENT: This has a good first person narrative at the begining and puts the reader in the picture. But by the middle, ("On July 2...."), the narrator should be looking up at the face of a cliff with fossils, or something, and telling us what you see. If the point is the fossils, and the vehicle is a description of a hike, then the hike should lead us to a first person view of the fossils, and you never take us quite there. Im imagining a section that starts with "As I look up at the chalky-red cliff face, I can see a hundred pock marks where trilobites and other fossils lie waiting to be uncovered. On close inspection, a fossil at my feet speaks of a life across the chasm of millions of years... "
Works Cited
Mendrisiotto Tourism. Ente Turistico del Mendrisiotto e Basso Ceresi – Ticino –
Switzerland. Retrieved from
http://www.mendrisiottotourism.ch/contenuto.asp?nid=12&lid=1&cid=2
Retrieved on 18 July 2008.
United Nations. Monte San Giorgio: UNESCO World Heritage Center. Retrieved
from http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1090 Retrieved on 20 July 2008.
Since the founding of Jamestown, trees have played an important role in Virginia. This is too obvious. You might have something about how surprising it may seem that we have any big trees left, considering that this is one of the first places settled. Maybe work this into the way landowners themselves often dont know. I think Appalachian Voices would like to use this if possible.
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To showcase a hundred of the state’s most special trees and to connect a new generation to its roots, Virginia Tech forestry professor Jeff Kirwan teamed up with garden writer and lecturer Nancy Ross Hugo and internationally recognized photographer Robert Llewellyn to produce a book, Remarkable Trees.
After four years of work, the trio published the piece in September. The Virginia Big Tree program, funded by Trees Virginia and coordinated by Kirwan, who is also the state’s forestry 4-H extension specialist, provided the foundation from which the authors worked.
The Virginia Big Tree program continually identifies and catalogs the largest trees in the state. Champion trees are determined by a formula that takes into account the tree’s circumference, height, and crown. When Kirwan first decided to update the state’s list of champion trees several years ago, he expected to find as many as 30 percent of the listed trees perished or gone. Instead, to his dismay, nearly half, 27 of the 52 original trees discovered through the program, were dead or severely injured. Even more sadly, approximately 25 percent of the landowners were not aware that they had champion trees on their property. (POSSIBLE LEAD ELEMENT)
Through their book, Kirwan hopes to increase awareness and appreciation for trees, particularly within local communities. “We’re trying to emphasize the values of trees and the services they provide,” Kirwan said.
“Trees, to me, are just the highest and best representations of nature,” Hugo said. “I’m fascinated by them. After we looked at the Virginia Big Tree register, we envisioned a book that would not only unveil champion trees, but it would also honor trees that are noteworthy for their age, beauty, history, and community significance.”
Virginia has traditionally ranked high in the national register of trees because of its diversity of species. American Forests, which publishes the National Register of Big Trees, declares that Virginia is ranks fifth in the nation for champion trees. The state is home to 56 national champion trees, the largest of their species.
The book project was sponsored by Virginia Tech’s forestry and fisheries and wildlife sciences departments, the Virginia Forestry Education Foundation, Bartlett Tree Experts, Robert H. Smith Family Foundation, Peck Family Fund, and Trees Virginia (the state’s Urban Forestry Council).
Kirwan developed his fascination for trees as a youth. He grew up in a rural section of Maryland that has since been infringed upon by the metropolitan grown growth of southeast Washington D.C. The urbanization made him realize the true value of the trees. “Trees connect us with our roots,” Kirwan said. “When you get back to 300 or 400 years old, these trees have been witnesses to every single event of our own…history.”
One particular historical tree, the Emancipation Oak, was nominated four times by different people. Though not the largest of its kind, this remarkable tree resides on the campus of Hampton University. In 1863, the Emancipation Proclamation was read for the first time in the south under this noteworthy oak by Mary Peake, who later taught some of the first lessons to newly freed men and women beneath this same tree. The National Geographic Society has designated this oak as one of the 10 Great Trees of the World, because it is witness to one of the most significant moments in our nation’s history.
Remarkable Trees of Virginia, as well as the project’s web site, will list every tree that was nominated and the person who nominated it, regardless of whether or not that tree made the book cut. Since the call for nominations was announced, over 1,000 trees were nominated for possible inclusion in the four-color volume. The 176-page book will feature the stories and photographs of Virginia’s most special 100 trees. “We have chapters of big trees, historic trees, community trees, tree places, unique or unusual trees, and noteworthy specimens,” Kirwan pointed out.
A major focus of the book project was to incorporate children in the nomination process. The authors involved scout troops, 4-H groups, and schools. “The project encouraged children to connect not just to trees in general but to specific trees,” Hugo said. “We want them to look carefully at the trees in their neighborhoods, so that they' would begin to feel connected to specific trees and their habitats, not just to anonymous nature."
a couple possible leads...having a bit of trouble with this:
Coasting down the snaking country roads of Botetourt County, an elated toddler exclaims that the redbud blossoms in full bloom resemble tiny hummingbirds. The trees that line this beautiful scenic drive have been immortalized for future generations in Jeff Kirwan’s book, Remarkable Trees.
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Roughly 58 years ago, a couple of brothers toiled tirelessly in the shade of a 72-foot high American beech. The tree had a 12-foot circumference and its limbs spanned 92 feet. Using a rope and the tree’s limb, the boys hoisted engines from their automobiles for repairs. With the help of this age-old tree, the brothers founded the Wood Brothers Racing Team and helped to establish NASCAR as a national sport.
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revised version:
_________________________ To showcase the state’s most special trees and to connect a new generation to its roots, Virginia Tech forestry professor Jeff Kirwan teamed up with garden writer and lecturer Nancy Ross Hugo and internationally recognized photographer Robert Llewellyn to produce, Remarkable Trees of Virginia.
The trio published the book of nominated trees in September after four years of work. The Virginia Big Tree Program, funded by Trees Virginia and coordinated by Kirwan, provided the foundation from which the authors worked.
The program continually identifies and catalogs the state’s largest trees. These “champion trees” are determined by a formula using the tree’s circumference, height, and crown. When Kirwan first decided to update the state’s list of champion trees several years ago, he expected to find as many as 30 percent of the listed trees perished or gone. To his dismay, over half of the original 52 trees identified by the program were dead or severely injured. Even more sadly, approximately 25 percent of the landowners were not aware that they had champion trees on their property.
Virginia’s diverse species of trees has traditionally ranked high in the national register of trees. According to American Forests, which publishes the National Register of Big Trees, Virginia ranks fifth in the nation for champion trees. The state is home to 56 national champion trees, the largest of their species.
The Virginia Big Tree Program provided a starting point for the Remarkable Trees of Virginia book project. The authors hope that the book will help to increase awareness and appreciation for trees, particularly within local communities. “We’re trying to emphasize the values of trees and the services they provide,” Kirwan said.
“Trees, to me, are the highest and best representations of nature,” Hugo explained. “I’m fascinated by them. After we looked at the Virginia Big Tree Program register, we envisioned a book that would not only unveil champion trees, but would also honor trees that were noteworthy for their age, beauty, history, and community significance.”
The book project was sponsored by Virginia Tech’s forestry and fisheries and wildlife sciences departments, Virginia Forestry Education Foundation, Bartlett Tree Experts, Robert H. Smith Family Foundation, Peck Family Fund, and Trees Virginia (the state’s urban forestry council).
Kirwan grew up in a rural section of Maryland that has since lost its trees to the growing metropolitan areas of southeast Washington, D.C. This urbanization of forestland made him realize the true value of trees. “Trees connect us with our roots,” Kirwan said. “Trees that are 300 or 400 years old have been witnesses to every single event of our country’s history.”
One particular tree, the Emancipation Oak, was nominated by four different people. Though it is not the largest of its kind, this remarkable tree resides on the campus of Hampton University. In 1863, the Emancipation Proclamation was read for the first time in the South under this noteworthy oak by educator Mary Peake, who later taught some of the first lessons to newly freed men and women beneath this same tree. The National Geographic Society designated this oak as one of the 10 Great Trees of the World because it is witness to one of the most significant moments in our nation’s history.
The Remarkable Trees of Virginia book, as well as the project’s web site, lists every nominated tree and the person who nominated it, regardless of whether or not that tree made the book cut. A major focus of the book project was to incorporate children in the nomination process. The authors involved scout troops, 4-H groups, and schools. “The project encouraged children to connect not just to trees in general but to specific trees,” Hugo said. “We wanted them to look carefully at the trees in their neighborhoods, so that they would begin to feel connected to specific trees and their habitats, not just to anonymous nature.” Over 1,000 Virginia trees were nominated for possible inclusion in the book, which will feature the stories and photographs of Virginia’s most special 100 trees. “We have chapters of big trees, historic trees, community trees, tree places, unique or unusual trees, and noteworthy specimens,” Kirwan noted.
Sidebar:
Peruse the pictures and stories of nominated trees or even find some places near you to go visit the homes of these extraordinary trees at the Remarkable Trees of Virginia Project web site: http://www.cnr.vt.edu/4h/remarkabletree/
Learn how to identify, measure, and nominate a tree or check out the state or national database of champion trees at the Virginia Big Tree Program web site: http://www.fw.vt.edu/4h/bigtree/index.htm
For a closer look at the trees and chapters featured in the book or to see a list of tour dates for Jeff Kirwan’s school visits go to: http://www.teacherbridge.org/public/projects/forested/Remarkable+Trees+of+Virginia
To order a copy of Remarkable Trees of Virginia go to: http://www.upress.virginia.edu/books/hugo2.HTM
Photo: Kirwan.jpg
Cutline: Virginia Tech forestry professor and co-author Jeff Kirwan.
Photo: Hugo.jpg
Cutline: Garden writer, lecturer, and co-author Nancy Ross Hugo.
Photo: Llewellyn.jpg
Cutline: Internationally recognized photographer Robert Llewellyn.
Photo: montgomery VT black willow 174.jpg
Cutline: This black willow, which will appear in the book’s chapter on tree places, can be found at the Duck Pond on campus. This tree was nominated by Tracy Sebring, who works in the campus’ state 4-H Office.
Photo: nrvredcedar.jpg
Cutline: This approximately 500 years old red cedar sits on Pembroke Cliffs overlooking the beauty of the New River in Giles County.
Photo: burgoak.jpg
Cutline: This tree, found on the McCann property on the corner of Eaken Street and Preston Avenue, is a particular favorite of Virginia Tech’s Corp of Cadets. The Corps members stood beneath this tree in honor of Colonel James McCann who led the Corps for 21 years.
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North America is home to the greatest diversity of freshwater mussels in the world. Here you might tell us why we care about muscles -- The bivalves clean water and provide essential nutrients ... etc ... Yet an overwhelming 60 percent of the nearly 300 native species of freshwater mussels have been classified as endangered or threatened, while 12 percent are already considered extinct.
Fisheries and Wildlife Science professor Dick Neves spoke at the International Seminar on Rearing of Freshwater Mussels in Heinerschied, Luxembourg in May. At the conference, he presented two oral papers and two poster papers about his research on how to improve survival of the endangered oyster mussel as well the mussel propagation facility, the Freshwater Mollusk Conservation Center (FMCC). He also spoke about the propagation methods used by other facilities in the United States. Of the 15 countries represented at the conference, Dick was the only U.S. representative.
Through his research at the FMCC, Dick strives to optimize cultivation technologies for mussels in order to conserve these endangered populations. Neves’ research focuses on 37 protected species in the Tennessee River system, 25 of which have been successfully propagated at the FMCC.
“Before we started there were no other methods used in the United States. Ours was the first propagation facility. We looked at the methods used in the 30’s when the U.S. Bureau of Fisheries unsuccessfully tried to propagate freshwater mussels. Then, we revised them with current technology to make them successful,” Neves said. “The rapid success of varied culture methods and technology now provides the capability to propagate most mussel species in need of conservation or restoration in state and federal waters of the United States.”
The methods developed at the FMCC are to produce and culture endangered juvenile mussels, which are then released into historic sites in Tennessee and Virginia rivers in cooperation with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, and Virginia Tech. Give us a little more information about the methods themselves.
“There are places where these endangered species have occurred historically and the populations have been extricated. So, the goal for the recovery of some of these species is to get them back into these historic rivers,” Neves said.
Each year, 250,000 juveniles are produced at the FMCC. Since the first release in 1997, nearly 600,000 juvenile mussels from 13 endangered species have been introduced into the Big South Fork Cumberland, Clinch, Powell, and Hiawassee rivers and their tributaries.
Using the methods developed at the FMCC, 10 facilities have been established and are doing comparable things to the fauna of those states.
“The ultimate goal is to prevent extinction,” Neves said. “The immediate goal is to get these animals out there, reproducing, to get the populations we established in different locations to spread upriver and downriver to recolonize the historic sites where they once occurred.”
Press Release: Fox Elected to Forestry Association Board
Thomas Fox, associate professor of forestry at Virginia Tech, has been elected to a three-year term on the board of Directors of the Virginia Forestry Association (VFA). He was installed at the organization’s Annual Convention at The Hotel Roanoke, Roanoke, Virginia.
The VFA is a statewide, private, not-for-profit organization with a membership comprised of 1,400 forest landowners, wood product businesses, and foresters. As a VFA Director, Fox will help guide the Association in its mission to promote stewardship and wise use of forest resources for the economic and environmental benefits of all Virginians.
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Amsterdam: Trains, Planes, and…Bikes?
Maureen Halsema
I emerged from Amsterdam’s Centraal Station and took in the view of the canal and the busy city street. To my right, towering before me stood a grand four-story bike garage brimming with bicycles of all different characters donning everything from brilliant colors to dull grays from plastic flowers to leopard-printed seats. This bike garage houses 3,000 bikes and yet bikes still lined the canals, the streets, and the alleys while others zoomed by with their drivers chatting on cell phones, holding umbrellas and groceries, carting children and lovers. What would typically be done in an automobile is done with finesse and ease on two wheels with only legs for motors.
Cars are an afterthought it seems on the bustling streets of Amsterdam. No, the horns you hear are not the usual blare so kin to cities like New York and
D.C. Instead, the tinkle of bells politely requests that you stay out of the bike lane, lest you are riding one. Which, if you are Dutch is probably the case, considering there are about as many bikes as there are people in Amsterdam. In fact, the Amsterdam Tourism and Convention Board said that there are 730,000 residents in Amsterdam and approximately 600,000 bikes.
“Public transportation is excellent and driving is strongly discouraged within the canal ring,” said the Amsterdam Tourist and Convention Board. “Of course biking is the preferred Dutch way to travel and some would say the only way to truly experience the city.”
Amsterdam is very manageable to traverse on foot, but there is always the option of a bike. The circular city is about five kilometers across, with most of the sights located in or near the center of it. Within the city, there are 400 kilometers of bicycle paths, which are somewhat of a bike highway equipped with bright red asphalt and traffic lights. Signs displayed on the light posts designate the bike paths. In January 2007, Canada’s National Post reported that Amsterdam’s governments spend $40 million a year on infrastructure for cyclists.
The city council tries to encourage the use of bikes in order to limit the use of cars within Amsterdam. According to the Amsterdam Tourism and Convention Board, about 40 percent of all traffic movements in Amsterdam today are conducted by bike. Over time, bicycles have come in and out of popularity for many reasons. One of the contributing factors to their popularity in Amsterdam is that the city’s structure is simply not conducive to car traffic. Amsterdam’s inner city infrastructure was originally constructed in the 17th century. When it was designed it was done with pedestrians in mind, not vehicles. The narrow streets that run along Amsterdam’s canals simply do not permit the space that is required for cars and parking spaces. It is for this reason that they developed the bicycle highway that winds throughout the city. These paths are designed to promote efficiency and to improve bicycle safety. The city council has also worked to develop theft-prevention programs and available parking space for bicycles, such as the parking garage by Centraal Station. There are even programs to encourage tourists to use bicycles as a means of seeing the city.
There are many options for the tourist who wants to experience Amsterdam in a totally Dutch fashion. Tourists can rent bikes from one of the many distributors, such as MacBike. For a small rental fee, tourists can rent bikes, rickshaws, tandems, and tour bikes from these distributors. Another popular option for tourists is to hire guides to show them around the city. Yellow Bike, among many other tour groups, offers several bike tours, including, the Jordaan Tour, the Maritime Tour, and the Waterland Bicycle Tour. These tours visit some of the major sights that Amsterdam has to offer, such as windmills, clog factories, the Shipping Quarter, local pubs, and nature reserves.
Bikes, in Amsterdam, come in all shapes and sizes to meet the needs of a diverse population. For instance, places like TROMM Tweewilers specialize in folding bikes that increase storage convenience. Why lock up your bike when you can fold it up and take it with you? There are even funky designs, such as those produced by Staller. He created the circular eight-person conference bike, called the Octos. This quirky design is available to rent at places like Amsterdam-Actief. Staller’s most recent design is known as the Love Bike. This heart-shaped bike seats five persons and even has a champagne bar. Whatever travel need or desire you wish to fulfill on a bicycle, chances are there is a way in Amsterdam.
Amsterdam celebrates their enthusiasm for bicycles on National Cycling Day. This holiday is held annually on the second Saturday in May. On this day, thousands gather to ride together on a selected route and enjoy a day filled with bike riding.
I watched as a ten-year-old boy zoomed by on his bicycle on his way to school. A mother carrying groceries with a baby on board effortlessly pedaled past. I gawked in shock. Such a simple concept seemed so foreign to me. What a brilliant idea though! It minimizes damage to the canals caused by runoff from vehicles. It lessens the human footprint on this tiny city, and who needs a gym when you ride your bike to work everyday? I heard a tinkling bell behind me, and I jumped towards the sidewalk heading in the direction of the bike stands.
Interview: Amsterdam Tourism and Convention Board
Kuitenbrouwer, Peter. (2007). City moves on two wheels: more than a third of commuter trips made by bike. National Post. P. A8
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Passion for Nature Inspires Lasting Legacy
“As you get older, you realize you need to find a way to give in a way that works for you,” declared Suzie Leslie, director for undergraduate advising for the college. “Nature means so much to me and I love to share it with people. I want to continue sharing my passion for nature, even when I’m gone. This is what made me realize the need for planning for the long term.”
Suzie and her husband Randy, a real estate appraiser, discussed their interest in leaving a nature legacy with the university and have decided to leave a percentage of their estate to Virginia Tech. “We don’t know how much we’ll have when we die, but we hope that the percentage we can give will be a significant enough amount to accomplish something substantial,” Randy said. “The university worked with us to develop and finely tune a plan that details what we would like to see happen. We are satisfied that the university understands our wishes and will follow them as outlined in the plan.”
Suzie and Randy teamed up with an estate planning attorney and the University Development office to formalize what they wanted to happen with the funds they will leave the university. “One of our major goals was to leave enough to build an outdoor environmental education center somewhere on campus,” Suzie explained. As part of the College of Natural Resources, the center would promote environmental awareness, understanding, appreciation, and responsible natural resources stewardship – a place for interns, students, and volunteers to get hands-on experience working with environmental programs. Suzie and Randy would like the center to offer students of all ages the opportunity to connect with nature and gain an appreciation for the interconnectedness of all living things. They hope it will promote understanding of the importance of human actions and the impact that those actions have on the ecosystem and the global environment. Another portion of the funds left by Suzie and Randy will be put towards scholarships to fund interns who will staff the center.
“Nature is my passion,” stated Suzie, a member of the Master Naturalist Program. “I have found that if you help someone see the wonders of nature for themselves, they get excited and want to share that experience with someone else. I give a lot of education programs related to enhancing diversity in your backyard, such as landscaping for wildlife, especially butterflies and birds.” Suzie is involved in a variety of environmental organizations – the New River Valley Bird Club, Blacksburg’s Greenway/Bikeway/Sidewalk/Corridor Committee, Friends of the New River, Virginia Tech White Water Women’s Association, and the Native Plant Society. She leads hikes for the YMCA and identifies birds on rafting trips for the Mountain Lake Birding Festival. The environmental center that Suzie and Randy envision is one more way that Suzie hopes will share her passion for the environment with generations to come.
Suzie and Randy have designated additional scholarships that will be awarded to undergraduate students who are residents of Virginia studying wildlife, fisheries, natural resources conservation, or similar natural resource fields with an interest in environmental education.
The Leslies have also specified a scholarship for the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine. “We had a dog, Zeke, who was very, very dear to both of us, but he was Randy’s sidekick,” Suzie recalled. “When we found out he had cancer, the vet school was just amazing. All the students and faculty there were just wonderful. They dedicated so much time to us and to Zeke.” Randy has requested that the scholarship be designated for someone who could not otherwise afford to go to vet school to study for a small animal practice. “For my buddy Zeke,” Randy added.
Suzie and Randy hope that their gifts to the university will render a long-term impact. “If we can help create an environmental education center, fund internships, and encourage students to intern at the center and help when school groups come in, down the road we are hopefully helping to educate many people,” Suzie noted. This is also true of the scholarships. By offering students with the desire to learn the opportunity for an education, she and her husband provide the means to equip them with the tools necessary to help others.
Suzie and Randy have also requested that the funds they provide will hopefully create opportunities for others to contribute to this or a similar cause. “We hope that we are constructing a foundation on which others will build,” Randy emphasized.
Photo: (one of the photos of Suzie and Randy)
Cutline: Suzie and Randy Leslie have decided to leave a nature legacy to Virginia Tech and its future generations of students.
Photo: (kayak photo from Suzie)
Cutline: One of Suzie’s passions is exploring the view sheds of Big Walker Creek, the Little River, and the New River. “In a kayak, you’re on your own. You can look at anything – go explore a plant, a bird, or whatever catches your eye,” Suzie observed.
Photo: flower1.jpg
Cutline: Suzie’s nature legacies will be lasting. One of her many personal touches has been the demonstration butterfly garden at the entrance of Cheatham Hall.
Photo: watergarden2.jpg
Cutline: Suzie enjoys bird watching while gardening or kayaking. She also teaches programs on how to landscape your backyard to attract wildlife such as birds and butterflies.
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