HPU Wins Tree Campus Higher Education Award for 16th Consecutive Year
High Point University was recently recognized with the 2025 Tree Campus Higher Education Award, formerly known as Tree Campus USA. This is the 16th consecutive year the university has received this designation for its commitment to creating a healthy on-campus environment with natural beauty. Pictured is the tree sculpture located on campus near Roberts Hall.
HIGH POINT, N.C., April 8, 2025 – High Point University was recently recognized with the 2025 Tree Campus Higher Education Award, formerly known as Tree Campus USA. This is the 16th consecutive year the university has received this designation for its commitment to creating a healthy on-campus environment with natural beauty.
Tree Campus Higher Education, an Arbor Day Foundation program, honors colleges and universities and their leaders for promoting healthy trees and engaging students and staff in the spirit of conservation.
The Mariana H. Qubein Arboretum and Botanical Gardens are named in honor of HPU First Lady Mariana Qubein, who has spearheaded the efforts to grow and sustain the gardens. HPU’s campus now features 3,700 different plants, including more than 700 varieties of trees. The arboretum and gardens feature several tree collections. These include 48 varieties of redbuds, 65 different varieties of dogwoods, 40 varieties of flowering apricots and 135 different varieties of magnolias. Maintaining HPU’s collections of trees as a level 2 arboretum with ArbNet has been a primary goal of the university.
“Trees, gardens and natural areas have long been recognized for their positive effects on our mental health and well-being,” said Emma Martone, curator of the Mariana H. Qubein Arboretum and Botanical Gardens. “We are incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity to steward the trees on our campus and connect both the campus and High Point community to the natural beauty that surrounds us.”
Martone said HPU partnered with the Natural Sciences Fellows in the Wanek School of Natural Sciences to build a new pathway in its arboretum and plant oak trees for the High Point community to enjoy.
“By planting oaks, which are vital to the health of our ecosystem, we’ve contributed to both the well-being of our community and the long-term sustainability of the environment,” Martone said.
Join HPU for the Arbor Day Celebration on Thursday, April 24, at 4 p.m. at the Cottrell Amphitheatre. The event is free and open to the public and will include tours of the Culp Planetarium and the Caine Conservatory. Representatives from the Arbor Day Foundation will also present campus leaders with the Tree Campus Higher Education Award during the event. Community members can register to attend the celebration at engage.highpoint.edu/ArborDay.