Tyler Junior College’s Jenkins Lawn is undergoing a restoration and rebirth, in preparation for the College’s upcoming centennial in 2026.
An anonymous donor provided five oak trees which were planted by TJC college and student leadership during a ceremony on Tuesday, as part of a comprehensive plan to redevelop the oak grove in front of Jenkins Hall, TJC’s oldest and most historic building.
Texas Organics provided topsoil, mulch and compost to treat the entire area and prepare it for the new trees.
“We are truly blessed that we have generous contributors who have come forward to help us recreate and redevelop our lawn, including working on the grounds themselves and replanting the oak grove that has been a great tradition for TJC,” said Mitch Andrews, TJC vice president for institutional advancement.
In recent years, many of TJC’s stately oaks — some of which were more than 80 years old — had been lost to extreme weather conditions.
“It’s obvious to anyone who visits or lives in Tyler or East Texas that we are in a garden spot,” said John Soules Sr., Texas Organics founder and Texas Composting Council advisory board member. “We felt such sorrow over all of these oak trees dying that we felt compelled in trying to play a part in getting this area renewed and rejuvenated.”
Soules continued, “The soil is very much like a student body. After a while, it’s finished and you have to bring in a new student body. Soil is much the same, in that it has to be renewed, rejuvenated and replenished. That’s my new calling in life: to organic compost and making things greener like God gave it to us in the first place.”
TJC officials have been working with arborists to select a variety of trees that will thrive in the East Texas climate, with an added focus on species that will provide fall color.
TJC President and CEO Dr. Juan E. Mejia said, “Today we again celebrate this very important partnership between Mr. Soules and Texas Organics and Tyler Junior College. In addition to his being a very philanthropic and caring leader, we greatly value the science and expertise he and Texas Organics are bringing to enhance the appearance of our campus.”
Andrews added, “We thank Texas Organics for their contribution of materials and services, and we thank Mr. Soules for being here today. We also want to thank an anonymous donor who has contributed the first oak trees as part of this restoration, and we hope that will inspire others to follow suit to help us once again create the great front lawn for TJC.”