Bennett College proudly celebrated its 150th anniversary with a community-focused planting event named “Our Roots Run Deep.” Nearly 200 volunteers gathered on campus to plant 195 native trees. The college’s student-run Green Team led the initiative in partnership with Greensboro Beautiful’s Neighbor Woods program. The goal of the event was to restore Bennett College’s historic landscape. 

Bhali Johnson, a senior majoring in interdisciplinary studies and the president of the Green Team expressed her excitement about the project. “The Green Team has dreamed of replanting the historic native trees on Bennett’s campus. Today is a historic day on campus,” she said. The event not only celebrated the college’s rich history but also emphasized the importance of sustainability and ecological restoration in urban environments.

The vision for this landscaping project dates back to 1938 when then-president David Dallas Jones and landscape architect Charles Gillette originally proposed an ambitious plan to enhance Bennett’s natural beauty with native trees. Unfortunately, this vision was never fully realized, and over the years, many trees were lost due to age, pests, and severe weather events. The college’s iconic 55-acre campus, known for its majestic magnolia and oak trees, has endured significant changes, highlighting the need for proactive reforestation efforts.

Three years prior, the Green Team identified the replanting of Bennett’s historic trees as a critical objective. Anne Hayes, associate professor of global leadership & interdisciplinary studies and advisor to the Green Team, worked closely with landscape architect Randal Romie to develop their plans further. With the college’s milestone anniversary approaching, they set the ambitious target of planting 150 trees.

Planting Trees and Legacy

On the event day, volunteers of all ages and backgrounds wore commemorative T-shirts. As volunteers planted trees such as white oaks, sugar maples, and southern magnolias, they filled each hole with a pearl—symbolizing the connection between current and future generations of Bennett Belles. Additionally, participants had the opportunity to adopt a tree and contribute to the Tree Legacy Fund, which supports the preservation of newly planted trees.

Coinciding with the planting event, Bennett College also hosted its inaugural Campus Archaeology Day. Dr. Claire Heckel, assistant professor of interdisciplinary studies, utilized the pre-dug holes from the tree planting to conduct archaeological surveys of the campus, potentially uncovering historical artifacts.