The campus community is invited to participate in an Earth Month kickoff event on April 6. 

At one of last year’s Helluva Block Party pregame events, I met Tech alumnus Tony Agusti. I was sitting behind the wheel of an Ioniq 5, one of the new cars on display from the Hyundai Motor Company. Someone slid into the passenger seat and we both admired the cool dashboard and interior of the electric vehicle. We chatted, and it was not long before we realized that we had something in common: Tech Beautification Day. 

Twenty-five years ago, Agusti was a mechanical engineering major who started Tech Beautification Day, inspired by his work with Scouting and the American Youth Foundation. Originating as a collaboration between the Freshman Council, Student Government Association (SGA), and Georgia Tech Facilities as a day of service, the inaugural event took place on May 22, 1999, and drew 40 volunteers, including Georgia Tech students and staff — among them, two horticulturists from Landscape Services. 

As we sat in the electric car, I was excited to share with him that I worked in Infrastructure and Sustainability (I&S), the campus unit that supports Tech Beautification Day, and that plans were underway for a 25th anniversary event in the spring.  Agusti, now a program specialist in the electric power division of Caterpillar Incorporated, happily agreed to return to campus, along with his family, as an honorary guest this year.  

As with many other campus events, Tech Beautification Day was put on hold for a few years because of the pandemic. But last year, SGA, in collaboration with Greek Week, brought it back in full force. With the support of the I&S Landscape Services department, this milestone anniversary will offer both a celebration and a full slate of projects focused on improving the campus landscape. 

This year, the event will take place on Saturday, April 6, and hands-on opportunities range from planting flowers, shrubs, and trees to laying pine straw and replacing the letter T from campus signage. The event begins with breakfast and a welcome from the Executive Vice President for Administration and Finance, Shantay N. Bolton, who will introduce Agusti. 

“Tech Beautification Day’s legacy is a testament to Georgia Tech’s mission to making a positive impact in the lives of people everywhere,” Agusti said. “I am honored and humbled to return to campus 25 years later with my family, serve alongside our community, and instill acts of kindness within my children.”  

Associate Director of Landscape Services Neil Fuller also speaks fondly of the event. “Students gain a sense of pride when they can look at a completed job and say they did it. And it gives them a chance to make their mark on campus and be able to come back and point out a specific plant or tree and tell their family how they planted it years ago.” 

Tony Agusti will be able to do just that, and Georgia Tech can thank him for creating one of the Institute’s beloved traditions. 

April 6 Schedule: 

8:30 a.m.:  Breakfast, check-in, and welcome (Tech Walkway at the south end of Tech Green)  

9:30 a.m. to noon: Volunteer projects 

12:30 p.m.: Cleanup, return tools, closing remarks 

Register to Participate  

Note: Please wear close-toed shoes and long pants. Bring sunscreen and bug spray.