Kelsey Tucker Will Serve as Starhill Forest Intern

2012 Mar 28

Kelsey Tucker, a first-year student from Petersburg, has been accepted to serve as a Starhill Forest Arboretum intern this summer.

Tucker, a graduate of PORTA High School, is the daughter of Scott and Adrienne Tucker of Petersburg.

The Starhill intern will be trained in botanical and horticultural work, GPS tree documentation, small construction and landscape projects, and general maintenance of the arboretum. In addition, Tucker will focus on two special projects. The first task will be the initiation of a Quercus genome study with Dr. Andrew Hipp, who will visit the arboretum in June to sample several hundred of Starhill's oak trees tor genetic mapping. Tucker will also work to develop a self-guided tree tour for Oak Ridge Cemetery and Lincoln's Tomb using GIS-linked aerial mapping and base data from 20 years of tree plantings.

Illinois College's Starhill Forest Arboretum, located south of Petersburg on 48 acres, received certification last summer as one of only 18 National Oak Reference Collections in North America by the North American Plant Collections Consortium. In addition, the arboretum boasts the most comprehensive living oak collection listed in the consortium.

Founded in 1829, Illinois College is a residential liberal arts college fostering academic excellence rooted in opportunities for experiential learning while preparing students for lifelong success.