Wayne Pierce, a longtime and beloved faculty member of CSU Stanislaus, had a vision of creating a native plant arboretum on campus. He imagined a winding pathway, along the south-side of the campus that college students, elementary and secondary students

, and community members would visit to learn about the trees, shrubs, and herbs of the Central Valley and the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

In the mid 1980s, Dr. Pierce’s vision began to take shape when 300 oak tree seedlings were planted by students, faculty, staff, and volunteers as the first phase of the Trans-California Pathway Project. For three years, volunteers watered the seedlings until they were well established. Today, 50 trees stand tall along University Way and are a testament to what is possible with dedication and vision.

When Dr. Pierce passed away in August 2008, his wife Donna sought to continue his life’s work and pledged $35,000 to take the Trans-California Pathway Project to the next phase. Her donation, combined with the memorial gifts for Dr. Pierce, will launch phase two of the project enabling the installation of ponds, electrical, and water lines.

“This University was his life,” says Donna Pierce of her late husband. “He put his heart and soul into teaching and would love the idea of students benefiting from this project for generations to come. I can’t think of a better way to honor him, and our shared values of preservation, conservation, and generosity.”