Shepherd University is looking for volunteers to help celebrate Arbor Day on Sunday, April 19, with its fifth annual tree planting event from 1-3:30 p.m. along University Drive on the west side of campus.

Volunteers will plant 50 native trees including evergreens, and shade and flowering hardwoods. The trees are valued at more than $3,000 and were awarded to Shepherd through the Cacapon Institute’s West Virginia Project CommuniTree.

The Campus Tree Committee, Shepherd Environmental Organization, and Biology Honor Fraternity are sponsoring the event. Dr. Carol Plautz, associate professor of biology, said the purpose of the planting is to provide and arboreal boundary and buffer zone between the west campus and an adjacent housing development.

“Trees are an enormous part of the beauty of our campus,” Plautz said. “They provide shade and other environmental benefits, habitat for wildlife, and opportunity for education.”

Volunteers wanting to help plant the trees should bring work gloves if they have them and meet along University Drive between parking lots G and H near Lurry and Martin halls. For more information, contact Plautz at cplautz@shepherd.edu.