FROSTBURG — Focus Frostburg 2026 will take place April 22 at Frostburg State University, offering a full day of programs, presentations and hands-on activities focusing on sustainability, environmental awareness and innovation. Events will be held throughout campus, with many sessions centered in the Lane University Center and the FSU Arboretum. All events are free and open to the campus community and the public.
As part of Earth Week, the university is also hosting a Digital Earth Day Poster Contest online. The Reduce, Reuse, Recycle contest showcases the talent and creativity of students enrolled in ART 207 Graphic Design. This year’s contest features a new twist: students incorporated an AI image generator into their ideation process to design environmental awareness posters for Focus Frostburg. Community members are invited to view and vote for their favorite designs on the FSU LGLG Facebook page at www.facebook.com/frostburglglg. Voting ends at midnight on Wednesday, April 22. Winners will be announced Thursday, April 23, with cash prizes awarded for first, second and third places.
The day’s events begin with activities led by Wildlife and Fisheries seminar students at the FSU Arboretum and Compton Natural History Museum. Birding hikes will be offered at 8 a.m. and 9 a.m., meeting at the Arboretum. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., guided tours of the Compton Natural History Museum will highlight mounted specimens, animal tracks and hands-on learning experiences. At 2 p.m., participants can join an Arboretum Stream Ecology and Biodiversity presentation featuring macroinvertebrate sampling, followed by a Wildflower and Seed Bomb Walk at 3 p.m.
At 10 a.m. in Lane University Center room 113, Kara Rogers Thomas will present “Greening Faith,” exploring cross-cultural and religious perspectives on environmental stewardship and conservation. The discussion examines how faith traditions across history have supported environmental concern alongside more familiar notions of dominion.
At 11 a.m. in Lane University Center room 113, Reagan Chase will present “Microplastics Everywhere,” addressing the often-overlooked issue of plastic production and its environmental consequences. Drawing from Plastic Inc. by Beth Gardiner, the presentation will examine the power of the plastic industry and the broader implications of plastic consumption.
Following at 11:25 a.m. in Lane University Center room 113, Genna Rippeon will present “From Chalkboards to Computers: The Role of AI in Modern Education,” examining the growing use of artificial intelligence in schools and raising questions about student-teacher interaction and the future of education.
At noon, the FSU Tree Campus Higher Education group will proclaim Arbor Day at the Clock Tower, celebrating the importance of trees to the campus, the community and the world. Also at noon, Times Talk will host a live discussion in Lane University Center room 111 featuring Jake Shade and Jamie Winters. The conversation will focus on data centers and sustainability, with food and drinks provided.
At 1 p.m. in Lane University Center room 113, Tariq Masood and Jamil Abdo will present “Green, Clean, and Sustainable Fuel Delivery to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions.” The session will introduce a simulated virtual model of the Light Gasoline Treatment Process and explore its potential to improve gasoline quality while reducing environmental impacts. Also at 1 p.m., the FSU Planetarium will celebrate its grand reopening with a special program for the campus community.
At 2 p.m., Tracy Edwards, sustainability coordinator, will host a Campus Sustainability Exhibition, highlighting initiatives such as the Bobcat Pledge to Reduce Food Waste and the Campus Race to Zero Waste, along with student-led sustainability efforts. From 2 to 4 p.m. in Lane University Center room 113, the Sustainability Awareness Society will lead an Eco-Brick Workshop, demonstrating how soft plastics can be repurposed into building materials.
The day concludes at 6 p.m. with a Garlic Mustard Pull and Trail Cleanup at the FSU Arboretum, offering participants a hands-on opportunity to support local ecosystems.
The full schedule and additional updates are available at www.facebook.com/frostburglglg. For more information about Focus Frostburg 2026, contact Kara Rogers Thomas at krogersthomas@frostburg.edu.