St. Edward’s University Historic Tree Wins Top Award
Austin, Texas — St. Edward’s University is celebrating another accolade– this time for our beloved Sorin Oak. The 250-year-old Texas Live Oak has won this year’s Austin Tree of the Year Award in the “Large Tree” category, beating 36 other Central Texas trees in the running for the top title.
Sitting atop a dormant volcano with breathtaking views of downtown Austin, the Sorin Oak is rich in history– withstanding severe weather over the years, as well as a nearby fire at the university’s Main Building back in 1903.
St. Edward’s University would like to thank Arborist Roy Johnson, Office of Sustainability Intern Ethan Tobias ‘23, and the Hilltopper community for the care and support of this invaluable campus landmark.
About Austin Tree of the Year Awards
The Austin Tree of the Year Awards, created in 2007, honors outstanding trees across our community. The program currently operates under the supervision of Austin Parks & Recreation and Treefolks, a nonprofit whose members have been planting thousands of trees across Central Texas since 1989.
About St. Edward’s University
St. Edward’s University is a private, liberal arts university in the Catholic, Holy Cross tradition with approximately 3,600 students. Located in Austin, Texas, it is one of the top universities in the state and offers more than 55 undergraduate and 9 graduate programs. St. Edward’s delivers a premier, highly personalized education that provides students distinctive academics and extensive internships, research and service learning opportunities on a vibrant and inclusive hilltop campus in a world-class city. St. Edward’s has been recognized for 20 consecutive years as one of “America’s Best Colleges” by U.S. News & World Report. In the 2022-2023 Best Colleges rankings, St. Edward’s remains in the list of top 10 Best Regional Universities in the West for the 4th consecutive year.
