Old beer cans, unmaintained lawns and overflowing garbage cans litter many of the yards on College Hill.

The men of Acacia Fraternity said they are using their lawn as a model for what houses should look like in this area.

Acacia Fraternity received the award of Yard of the Year from the College Hill Association on Friday in a brief garden-side ceremony. The College Hill Association presented Acacia with a sign to put on its lawn, a certificate of appreciation and homemade cupcakes.

“It started out as a bit of pruning and just kept going,” College Hill Association Co-Chairwoman Allison Munch-Rotolo said in a press release. “Soon, they were installing the basalt pathways and building picket fences. Their efforts are truly remarkable. We know how busy students are — that’s what makes the efforts of these young men all the more exceptional.” Nick Montanari, sophomore kinesiology major and yard improvement leader, said most of the work was done over the summer while he was here in Pullman working a landscaping job. He said his experience in landscaping helped him envision and complete many of the projects for the yard.

He said the yard now has more character due to the rock walkway, white fence and brick pillar. Most of the yard improvements came from basic maintenance and pruning, such as redoing the flowerbeds, mowing the lawn and cleaning up the rose bushes, he said.

The men of Acacia are going to continue to improve the yard in the spring, he said. The next big plans are to build another brick pillar, put up more fences and even build a fireplace in the backyard.

Acacia President Dustin Reischman, a junior philosophy major, said the fraternity was surprised and honored by the award the award given to them. The main intention of the yard improvement was not to generate recognition but to show pride in their home and property, he said.

“We are very privileged to receive the ‘Yard of the Year’ award because this may show residents in Pullman that you can still maintain a nice lawn within college neighborhood,” he said. “Maybe our lawn will be an example to others, so that other lawns in the community look great.” Montanari said many of the fraternity’s neighbors have commented on how much the property has improved. Many older members of the community have stopped by the house to say how nice the lawn looks and show their gratitude for the upkeep of the old house.

“We also love to help our neighbors’ lawns stay maintained, so we always go over to them and see if they need help raking up leaves, or mowing their lawns or anything else that comes to their mind,” he said. “We just to help inspire everyone to keep their lawns looking great, and we are more than willing to help them with it.” The Acacia Fraternity started on campus last fall and has been re-colonizing after it left in the fall of 1996. The fraternity currently has 10 members, four of whom live in the fraternity house.