Students at Grand Valley State University (GVSU) outside of Grand Rapids, MI, produced a video called “Saving Trees” featuring Archangel founder David Milarch, that challenges us to go further. The finished video is the official entry into a contest between three Michigan post-secondary schools, and is now online and competing for views. David’s story shows that one person can made a difference.
A small group of GVSU students worked together to conceive and produce a compelling story about David Milarch and his amazing dedication and persistence against all odds to save the giant trees that are helping to save our place on the planet.
The propagation facilities at Archangel Ancient Tree Archive in Copemish, MI served as the video’s location. One exciting aspect of the project for the students is that Ford provided vehicles for them to travel to and from Copemish for the shoot.
The contest is a collaboration between the Ford Motor Company and the non-profit organization, Center for Emerging Enterprises, with a goal of providing a hands-on educational experience for students while embodying Ford’s brand statement: Go Further.
[pl_blockquote cite=”Frank Blossom, Teacher, Mentor, Marketing Professional”]It’s a great story about an amazing person. And another example of how our students are going further.[/pl_blockquote]
Students with varied interests at GVSU volunteered to work on the project, and collaborated with their mentor, Frank Blossom, a 
GVSU Storymaking and Advertising teacher and marketing communications professional. The students are studying advertising, marketing, and film & video. GVSU student team members include Ian Kast, Chad Rodgers, Rick Iseppi, Lindsey VanDenBoom, Olga Sarayeva, Atikh Bana and Joe Buckenmeyer.
Other participating west Michigan schools include Calvin College, and Compass College of Cinematic Arts. Participating students got a real-world opportunity to work with the Ford marketing team, automotive advertising agency Team Detroit, and Grand Rapids production professionals as they conceived, produced, and edited their short films.
The contest has just launched; it’s all about number of video views. Visit the project’s Facebook page for more images from the shoot, and if you like the video as much as we do, please share!
What an inspiration. This gives us hope in an age where so much of nature is diminishing due to mankind’s ignorance. Man can make a positive contribution to the welfare of our planet. David has proven that. From all of us who love trees and want them to prosper, THANK YOU, David and everyone at Archangel.
Wonderful story. I live in California and have worked for many yeats with Save the Redwood League. It is our duty to help save these trees and the GVSU is doing a great job.
Dear Tree Champions
There is a huge Tamarisk tree in Egypt in Luxor – must be a thousand years old – I believe it’s at the Karnak temple. (Did both temples that day, so am trying to remember which one it was at). Is this a species you wish to propagate?
Hi Trish. We’d love to clone every big tree we can get our hands on. It’s all about funding! Thanks for reaching out.
Who can you (or have you) share(d) your cloning techniques with , that can expand your influence? What does it take to get a cloning operation started on a small local scale ?
I would enjoy working here in oregon with the group that helped you with your first cloned trees . I am based in canby, oregon (near portland) and based on my one discussion with you by phone 2 yrs ago, I have established 11 giant sequoia and 25 coast redwood seedlings ( from initial 1 and 2 inch height) to 10-18 inch height on our riverside fog shrouded field along the molalla river (24 acres) . You inspired me to start a ‘more northern’ stock of redwoods to fight the effects rapidly advancing climate change.
thanks, David P.
Excellent, David! We are working on an education initiative now and are exploring how to spread the word. Keep up the good work!
Archangel and David Milarch are inspirational and visionary — what a way to “light a candle” in a world that sometimes seems too full of stories of destruction. This is creativity at its best!
One of the best things I heard lately was the one from Archangel’s Indiegogo video – “It’s not time for preservation, it’s time for recovery”. I strongly believe that this approach can take ecological activities way further than they are right now. David Milarch, Big Tree Adventure Tours is with you! Best regards from the Amazon!!!!
Wonderfully exciting and creative.Thank you us what can be done. Perhaps regeneration is a broad road – the trees are showing us a way! Thank you David and Team!
Elaine Thornton
GVSU students top Calvin, Compass colleges in Ford video contest
By Brian McVicar
December 19, 2014
Seven Grand Valley State University students will travel to Detroit next month to put the finishing touches on a video for Ford Motor Company’s “Go Further” promotional campaign… The GVSU video tells the story of David Milarch, co-founder of Archangel Ancient Tree Archive, a nonprofit based in Manistee County that’s dedicated to saving old growth trees and preserving their genetics. The idea behind the “Go Further” project is to showcase Ford owners who lead inspiring lives…