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August 17, 2025

When Rebecca Allgeier, a student in the 4+1 Nutrition and Dietetics program, envisioned a campus garden, she saw more than fresh produce—she saw a way to bring students together around healthy, sustainable food. Thanks to support from the Arnold/Wheeler Scholarship in the College of Education and Health Sciences, she turned that vision into reality.

“I started with a survey in October 2023 to see what students thought about having a campus garden,” Allgeier said. “The results helped shape a proposal to ����ɫ��’s administration, and by spring, we had approval and a location—right next to Comstock Hall.”

Over the summer of 2024, Allgeier worked with university staff and community garden experts to prepare the space, build garden beds, and plant the first crops. The pilot project is starting small, with plans to distribute fresh produce to students for a nominal fee, much like Peoria’s Market 309.

While the first year’s harvest will be modest, the team—led by Allgeier and faculty mentor Dr. Teresa Drake—sees big potential for growth. “We want to start small, learn what works for our campus, and then expand based on what students want and need,” Allgeier explained.

For now, the garden stands as a symbol of collaboration, sustainability, and the power of student initiative—proving that with the right support, even a small plot can grow into something big.

—Emily Potts