When the beloved Tree of Life in Houghton’s Field of Dreams was struck down by lightning last summer, its demise was given tribute by Houghton community, alumni and students alike all over social media. In response to the loss, the class of 2017 has decided to make its class gift a tribute to the tree. According to an official letter sent by the class of 2017 cabinet to senior class members, their gift will be to plant a seedling from the original Tree of Life, and install rock benches for outdoor seating around the new tree.
Prior to the announcement, the senior class had the opportunity to vote between planting the seedling and placing a fire pit near the Kerr-Pegula Athletic Complex (KPAC).
“We came up with the idea by brainstorming things around campus that we have noticed which could be improved to be more useful to future students,” said class president Sarah Kopa ‘17, when asked how the cabinet determined these options. “We also really wanted a gift that would have meaning to our class and the things we have experienced together. From there it was narrowed down based on what was possible both to implement on campus and was also affordable.”
Class gifts have been an on and off again tradition at Houghton. According to Daniel Noyes, Regional Director of Development, the first recorded class gift was the class of 1925’s gift of the memorial outside Fancher marking the birthplace of Willard J. Houghton. Other class gifts current students might recognize include the swing set by the Paine building, the Christmas tree outside the Campus Center, and the study abroad road sign outside of Chamberlain. For the class of 2017, the Tree of Life has seemed like a possibility for their class gift since the beginning of the academic year.
“From the very beginning of the Fall semester, the cabinet kept returning to the idea of the Tree of Life and how we could incorporate that into the senior gift,” said class cabinet secretary Teira Hawkins ‘17. “There were some ideas to use the wood from the original tree but the logistics and finances were much more intricate than a class could afford to do as a gift.” She continued, “Originally we had planned on buying a seedling to put in the area of the Tree of Life but when administration heard of our idea, they informed us that they actually had some of the original seedlings, which is fantastic because it would have so much more sentimental value, and would allow us to purchase more benches.”
According to Kopa, planting the Tree of Life seedling does connect directly to the class of 2017’s experience at Houghton.
“We were the last class to have the Tree of Life be a part of the majority of our time here,” said Kopa. “My hope was that the class would feel connected and united by our gift, and I think this gift accomplishes that.”
While the logistics for planting the seedling have yet to be confirmed, Kopa said that the rock benches have already arrived, and the cabinet hopes to place them after Easter Break. The cabinet also encouraged their class to help finance the gift through a pledged donation of $20.17. Seniors who give before May 1 will have their donation commemorated in the Commencement program.