Hillcrest High School earns arboretum title, honors slain student on Earth Day

A south suburban school gathered to mark the official opening of the Hillcrest Arboretum on Earth Day.

"This momentous milestone is a testament to our unwavering commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainability," Hillcrest High School Principal Ron Towner said at a ribbon cutting ceremony.

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On Monday, students and school leaders stepped outside to plant the 25th tree species on school property and therefore, reaching arboretum status.

The school is now the second high school in Illinois to become an arboretum.

"I've been working closely with the Morton Arboretum and they have supplied all of the trees thus far," Hillcrest High School Ecology Club Sponsor Theresa Kelsey said. "We've planted 15 trees every year for the last five years,"

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The last tree planted was in honor of fallen hawk, Marshawn Mitchell.

The 14-year-old freshman had only been at hillcrest high school for three days when he was shot, killed a homecoming football game in September.

Authorities say, Mitchell was not the intended target.

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"Happy that Hillcrest is continuing to keep his memory alive," Mitchell's mother Amanda Lenoir said. "Me and my family we will always come back here to put flowers down next to the plaque and we're going to keep Marshawn's memory alive."

So far, the school has planted 60 trees on school property and plan to continue planting more for years to come.