HIGH POINT, N.C., Aug. 25, 2009 – High Point University First Lady Mariana Qubein has been named by the North Carolina Division of Forest Resources as the Outstanding Individual Merit Winner of the Urban Forest Awards Program.
The annual program rewards cities, towns, organizations, businesses and individuals for outstanding work to protect and enhance community forests and raise awareness about the importance of urban forestry projects.
Qubein is being honored for her vision to create and bring to fruition a blossoming arboretum that spreads across the HPU campus. A comprehensive map and signage help visitors to learn about and appreciate the botanical gardens.
“I am so honored to receive this prestigious award and I’m most grateful for the many faculty, staff and students who do so much to ensure that our university is caring about our environment,” Qubein said.
Award winners were selected by a panel that included N.C. Division of Forest Resources’ urban forestry staff and members of the North Carolina Urban Forest Council. Entries were judged for impact, quality, innovation and the degree to which the work serves as a worthy example for others to follow. The winners may also be nominated for the National Arbor Day Awards program.
Award recipients will be recognized at the N.C. Urban Forest Council’s 2009 Annual Conference Awards Banquet on Sept. 15 at the Marriott Hotel in Winston-Salem.
For more information about the award, contact Jennifer Rall at 919-857-4849.
At High Point University, every student receives an extraordinary education in a fun environment with caring people. HPU, located in the Piedmont Triad region of North Carolina, is a liberal arts institution with 3,700 undergraduate and graduate students from 50 countries and 44 states at campuses in High Point and Winston-Salem. It is ranked by US News and World Report No. 5 among comprehensive universities in the South and No. 1 in its category among up-and-coming schools. Forbes.com ranks HPU in the top 6 percent among “America’s Best Colleges.” HPU was included in The Chronicle of Higher Education’s “Great Colleges to Work For” 2009 listings. The university offers 68 undergraduate majors, 40 undergraduate minors and seven graduate degree programs. It is accredited by the Commission of Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and is a member of the NCAA, Division I and the Big South Conference. Visit High Point University on the Web at www.highpoint.edu.
Chris DudleyVice President for [email protected]