HPU Earns Tree Campus Higher Education Award for 17th Consecutive Year
High Point University has been recognized with the Tree Campus Higher Education Award, formerly known as Tree Campus USA. This is the 17th consecutive year the university has received this designation for its commitment to creating a healthy on-campus environment with natural beauty.
HIGH POINT, N.C., March 31, 2026 – High Point University has been recognized with the Tree Campus Higher Education Award, formerly known as Tree Campus USA. This is the 17th 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 is home to more than 700 varieties of trees and 3,700 different plants. The arboretum and gardens feature 48 varieties of redbuds, 65 varieties of dogwoods, 40 varieties of flowering apricots and 135 varieties of magnolias. Maintaining HPU’s collections of trees as a level 2 arboretum with ArbNet has been a primary goal of the university.
“The trees on our campus make HPU a distinctive place to live and learn,” said Emma Martone, curator of the Mariana H. Qubein Arboretum and Botanical Gardens. “Many of our trees predate the university’s founding, and others have been added over time to enhance the beauty of campus. This recognition affirms the role these trees play in shaping the campus experience for our students and reflects our commitment to caring for the natural environment entrusted to us.”
Trees, gardens and natural areas have long been recognized for their positive effects on mental health and well-being, Martone said.
HPU held a ceremony last September to commemorate the new Cottrell Japanese Garden that is being built on campus thanks to a generous gift from David and Christy Cottrell. Designed by acclaimed landscape architect Sadafumi Uchiyama, the garden will be located behind Cottrell Hall and feature a tiered waterfall and pond, a stone terrace and a Japanese-style tea house. Walking paths will weave through the garden and offer students a peaceful retreat and a way to enjoy the garden’s natural beauty and tranquility.
Community members are invited to join HPU for its annual Arbor Day Celebration on Thursday, April 23, at 4 p.m. at the Cottrell Amphitheatre. The event is free and open to the public.
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 http://www.highpoint.edu/arbor-day.