Howard Payne University will celebrate Arbor Day, November 4, with an educational program and a tree-planting ceremony. The events, which begin at 3 p.m. at HPU’s Mabee University Center, are free of charge and open to the public.

Nick Harrison, Texas A&M Forest Service Firewise coordinator and former Brownwood resident, will lead the training session on planting and pruning trees. At the activity’s conclusion, HPU representatives will plant a tree near the Mabee Center in recognition of Arbor Day.

Harrison, who was born in Brownwood and lived for a number of years in a home that now houses HPU’s advancement and alumni relations offices, looks forward to returning to his hometown to take part in the Arbor Day festivities.

“It will be great to be in my hometown of Brownwood to assist with the Howard Payne University Arbor Day events,” Harrison said. “I applaud HPU for taking the steps to establish, maintain and sustain the university’s trees, which add to the beauty of the campus and benefit the students and the residents of Brownwood.”

HPU values the opportunity to present the upcoming Arbor Day activities, said Terry Pritchett, who serves as HPU’s assistant vice president for facilities and planning as well as chair of the university’s Campus Tree Advisory Committee.

“It is an honor to work with the Campus Tree Advisory Committee and the Texas A&M Forest Service to provide our community with an Arbor Day observance as well as training regarding recommended tree-planting and pruning methods,” Pritchett said. “We at HPU value these partnerships and strive to be good stewards of the environment God has given us to manage.”

Questions about HPU’s Arbor Day events may be directed to the university’s facilities office at 325-649-8608.

More information about Howard Payne University is available online at www.hputx.edu.