HIGH POINT, N.C.– The High Point University family joined with local community members for the annual Arbor Day Celebration on April 20 at the Cottrell Amphitheater.

The event celebrated the health of campus and was led by First Lady Mariana Qubein, who has spearheaded the growth of HPU’s Gardens and Arboretum.

“Nature is all about growth,” she said as she opened the event. “This campus, a month ago, was lit and bursting with color as the signs of spring sprouted around us and the natural progression of winter into spring. Nature isn’t the only source of growth. High Point University has mastered that word under the leadership of our president from acreage to buildings to educational programs to the number of our students to faculty and staff, you name it. That is growth.”

The Mariana H. Qubein Arboretum and Botanical Gardens at HPU features 30 gardens and 3,700 different plants, including more than 700 varieties of trees. HPU also has a garden and honeybee hives at the Physical Therapy Pro Bono Clinic operated by students and faculty. The garden produced 850 pounds of food and 63 pounds of honey for patients this year.

Jocelyn Stoner, a student who is part of the Doctor of Physical Therapy program and chairs the community garden program for the Class of 2024, said her father’s garden had taught her to appreciate where food comes from while she was growing up.

“As a student here I saw an opportunity to help the Pro Bono Clinic by expanding the garden, and working in the garden,” said Stoner. “We wanted to accommodate our patients’ interests as well as to cater to more ethnicities and cultures that we see at the Pro Bono Clinic. This last year, we had the most amount of produce harvested in a single growing season. What really made the garden thrive was the students who would volunteer. Gardening and immersing yourself in Mother Nature is therapeutic and takes all the stress out. We must continue to educate others about the beauty that not only is gardening but our planet.”

Representatives from the Arbor Day Foundation presented campus leaders with the Tree Campus Higher Education award for the 14th consecutive year during the event. Formerly known as Tree Campus USA, Tree Campus Higher Education is an Arbor Day Foundation program that honors universities, colleges and their leaders for promoting healthy trees and engaging students and staff in the spirit of conservation.

It all makes the annual Arbor Day Celebration a special time for students, faculty, staff and community members to come together and celebrate the learning opportunities provided by the campus gardens. Complimentary trees were also given to attendees to take home and plant.

“We’re here today to celebrate trees,” said Emma Martone, curator of the Mariana H. Qubein Arboretum and Botanical Gardens. “We’re self-sufficient but connected to nature in every single way. Practically every bite we eat we can thank plants for, even a juicy steak.”

Dr. Jason Lattier, director of the Caine Conservatory, detailed how students use plants there in their studies ranging from art and architecture to science.

“Our [conservatory] is truly a living classroom on campus,” said Lattier. “This year, we hosted many classes from across campus, including classes from our environmental sciences, our biology program and all the way to classes in our art department where students come to draw and sketch our beautiful plants as well as our gorgeous architecture of the conservatory.

“We’ve also been growing our impact on the local community through dozens of tours throughout the year,” he said. “We’re really trying to spread the word about all the good things happening here at HPU. Speaking of trees, our tree canopy continues to grow under the 60-foot glass roof of the conservatory. Remember when we talk about trees, we’re also talking about the complex ecosystems and biodiversity they support. So much of life depends on trees so let’s not hope for a brighter future, let’s hope for a shadier future where we actually plant more trees than we cut down.”