The gift of 90 burr oak trees from TXU Energy to The University of Texas-Pan American and the Rio Grande Valley cities of Edinburg and McAllen was celebrated Nov. 3 at the UTPA campus as one that will keep on giving for generations to come.

University officials along with representatives from McAllen and Edinburg greeted Jon Bennett, TXU Energy director of Community Relations, and an 18-wheel truck carrying the 90 trees measuring 12 to 14 feet tall – 30 of which will go to each city and the remainder being planted at the University campus.

UTPA Interim President Charles A. Sorber called the gift of the trees a welcome addition to UTPA’s campus landscaping master plan and its goal to provide and maintain a sustainable environment.

“These particular oaks will be enjoyed not just in the short term but by students for generations to come long after you and I are gone, they will be there for the people of this community and the people that populate this campus. This living gift we accept today from TXU Energy will provide another huge step in our direction to making our landscaping sustainable in addition to beautifying our campus,” he said.

The trees were donated as part of TXU Energy’s Committed to Community Growth program, which focuses on the company’s commitment to environmental improvement, sustainability and going green efforts at Texas campuses and communities.

TXU Energy owns the largest urban tree farm in the nation operated by the Texas Trees Foundation and currently donates trees to any public property. Bennett said since the Committed to Community Growth program started in 2000, TXU Energy has dedicated more than 152,000 trees across the state.

“We are inside communities everywhere and across the Rio Grande Valley from Port Isabel to Rio Grande City,” said Bennett, who also described TXU Energy’s other efforts to help their energy consumers, such as energy conservation advice and assistance for low-income customers. “The burr oak tree is one of the largest, deepest rooted and strongest Texas trees there is. When you put that here in the Valley it will be here for generations and generations. Sustainability is not about us, it is about the future."

Accepting the trees at the ceremony from the City of Edinburg was Edward L. Kuprel, city forester, and from the City of McAllen, Parks Superintendent Brad Bentsen. Javier Gonzalez, a biology major and member of the University’s Environmental Awareness Club, which initiated campus recycling and other green projects at UTPA, represented the students in thanking TXU Energy for their donation. Gonzalez said “some of life’s best ideas and self realizations have come to light under the shade of a tree.” Continued...