As part of the Heat Watch Project, Hampden-Sydney students, faculty, and staff participated in a tree planting event at Farmville’s new splash pad.
Hampden-Sydney College is committed to supporting and strengthening the surrounding community. Through volunteer service initiatives, students, faculty, and staff actively contribute to making a positive difference. Earlier this month, a group of Hampden-Sydney students, faculty, and staff joined local community members for a tree planting event at Farmville’s new splash pad, contributing to the town’s Heat Watch Project.
The Heat Watch Project began in July 2021, when Hampden-Sydney, along with 11 other Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges (VFIC) member institutions, started measuring temperatures at various times of the day—morning, afternoon, and evening—across 10 diverse communities throughout the state. The project sought to equip local governments with data to tackle a range of heat-related challenges. McGavacks Professor of Biology Michael Wolyniak contributed to the temperature data collection in Farmville, which involved individuals walking nine designated routes with devices to measure temperature and humidity and GPS technology to log locations. Each route was completed within an hour during the morning, afternoon, and evening observation periods. After the data was analyzed, a modeling approach was developed to examine the town’s heat boundaries, considering factors like tree cover, surfaces, and other elements between measurement points. Once Hansen Assistant Professor of Environmental Sciences Scott Starr arrived at Hampden-Sydney, he worked with Declan Kent ’23 to analyze the data in more detail, looking to identify areas of elevated temperatures in Farmville during the specific times of the day. This led to the first round of tree plantings aimed at combating the elevated temperatures.
“Our first tree giveaway and planting event with students was at the new Fishin’ Pig location parking lot in November 2022,” Starr says. “Since many of the trees in that parking lot had died, we partnered with Jay Wilkerson, the Town of Farmville horticulturalist, to plant new trees. In addition, trees were also planted at a town-owned park off Andrews Drive in Farmville.”
The Farmville Heat Watch Project was awarded a $15,000 grant from the Virginia Department of Forestry, organized by the VFIC, to support the initial tree giveaway and planting efforts at The Fishin’ Pig and Andrews Drive. This year, an additional $20,000 was awarded for further tree planting initiatives. The team has also benefited from a valuable partnership with the Town of Farmville, which has provided crucial support.
Ahead of the tree planting at the splash pad, Starr hosted a tree giveaway in October, distributing 500 saplings at the Farmville Farmer’s Market and to members of the Hampden-Sydney community. The event featured a variety of sapling species, including flowering dogwood, red maple, river birch, American hornbeam, and sweetbay magnolia.
“With the 2022 tree giveaway included, we’ve distributed nearly 1,000 saplings,” Starr says. “Looking ahead to the splash pad, this was an excellent opportunity since trees weren’t part of the original design, leaving plenty of open space to make a meaningful impact.”
It felt great to give back to the Farmville community by planting trees at Farmville’s new splash pad, which many people will enjoy for years to come. I am proud to have played a role in addressing local environmental issues through the Heat Watch Project, and it was inspiring to see firsthand how Hampden-Sydney College actively engages with the community by conducting impactful research and addressing local challenges.
Scott Teachey ’25
Under Wilkerson's guidance, plans were created to integrate a variety of trees around the splash pad and along the adjacent walking path. Working alongside Director of Student Affairs Operations, Orientation, and Civic Engagement Sandy Cooke, students participated in planting seven mature oak trees at the site. Over time, this will greatly enhance the tree coverage in the area, further supporting the objectives of the Heat Watch Project.
“It has been great to work alongside Dr. Starr on the Heat Watch Project,” Cooke says. “This year and last, the Tigers Serve program sent nearly 100 volunteers to help distribute free trees to the community as well as plant mature trees. Students were eager to participate and learned a lot from Dr. Starr and our town horticulturalist.”
Starr echoed Cooke’s sentiments: “Working with Mrs. Cooke is always a pleasure,” Starr says. “She’s an incredible collaborator and a key resource for engaging groups of students. From planning and organizing to coordinating activities on the day of the event, she has been instrumental in both projects. While we were out there, many people passed by and were thrilled to see Hampden-Sydney men working hard to support the community.”
Hampden-Sydney College remains committed to engaging with and supporting the growth and development of the surrounding community. Through the dedication of our students, faculty, and staff, the College continues to give back in meaningful ways, making a lasting impact through service and exemplifying selflessness.
“It brings me great joy to see the Hampden-Sydney men driven and excited to give back to the community by volunteering in service projects through our Tigers Serve program,” Cooke says. “We strive to develop a significant program that impacts the lives of students and the Prince Edward community. This semester alone, the Tigers Serve program has accounted for over 2,000 hours of service, which translates to over $67,000 of economic impact in the local community.”
History major Scott Teachey ’25, who is an actively involved community citizen and contributed to the tree planting effort, believes in the importance of supporting the local community, saying, “As a Hampden-Sydney student, I believe in the importance of giving back to our local community. Part of forming good men and good citizens is making a positive impact on those around us. Working with Mrs. Cooke, students have contributed to Farmville and Prince Edward County in many meaningful ways by volunteering their time. It felt great to give back to the Farmville community by planting trees at Farmville’s new splash pad, which many people will enjoy for years to come. I am proud to have played a role in addressing local environmental issues through the Heat Watch Project, and it was inspiring to see firsthand how Hampden-Sydney College actively engages with the community by conducting impactful research and addressing local challenges.”
Service in all its forms is essential, and this initiative demonstrates how our students, faculty, and staff make a meaningful difference while promoting sustainability. As these trees grow, they will continue to support the goals of the Heat Watch Project, standing as a lasting reminder of this effort. For those involved, it’s an opportunity to reflect on their contributions and take pride in giving back to the community in a purposeful and caring way.
Hampden-Sydney College is committed to supporting and strengthening the surrounding community. Through volunteer service initiatives, students, faculty, and staff actively contribute to making a positive difference. Earlier this month, a group of Hampden-Sydney students, faculty, and staff joined local community members for a tree planting event at Farmville’s new splash pad, contributing to the town’s Heat Watch Project.
