Dawn Redwood. Overcup Oak. A Common Persimmon that’s native, but not commonly planted in Philadelphia.
Planting for Posterity
The Class Tree Planting is the brainchild of Bill Hohns, W’74, PAR’00, whose longstanding support of the Arboretum and Penn Traditions created an inspired partnership
Published: October 24, 2022
Since 2011, Penn’s first-year classes have participated in their Class Tree Planting, voting to choose which tree takes root on campus to officially represent their class. The idea for this Penn tradition was planted by long-time Penn supporter Bill Hohns, W’74, PAR’00. Each fall, first-year undergraduates gather to officially position their tree on College Green. “What’s special for the Class of 2024 is that our tree—a Sassafras—is right next to the Ben Franklin statue,” says Toyosi Abu, ENG’24, W’24, Class Board 2024 President.
As one of the newest official University traditions, the Penn class tree planting allows new students to put down permanent roots right away. This year, contenders for the Class of 2026 specimen were the Shingle Oak, the Plane Tree, and the Beetree Linden. During Homecoming weekend, the far-and-away winner, Beetree Linden, was planted on a grassy triangle between the Van Pelt and Fisher Fine Arts libraries on College Green.
Members of the Class of 2026, flanked by Bill Hohns, W’74, PAR’00, and his wife, Kathlene, plant Penn’s newest class tree on College Green.
Toyosi Abu, ENG’24, W’24, Class Board 2024 President (second from left), and classmates at their tree planting ceremony.
Students from the Class of 2025 install their class tree, a Common Persimmon, during Homecoming Weekend in 2021.
Bill Hohns is pictured alongside his wife, Kathlene, during the Class of 2017 tree planting.
The Class of 2018 tree, a Bald Cypress (shown at center), stands tall in front of Fisher Fine Arts Library.
Students from the Class of 2021 came out in force to proudly celebrate the planting of their class tree.
The Class of 2020 chose a Deodar Cedar as their class tree, which stands along Woodland Walk near the Love statue.
The Class of 2021 tree, a Daybreak Magnolia, grows on College Green between College Hall and Van Pelt Library.
Bill Hohns and his grandson joined students from the Class of 2019 as they planted their class tree, a Black Tupelo.
One of the newest class trees, a Common Sassafras, stands by the Ben Franklin statue in honor of the Class of 2024.
The success of the tree planting tradition is a credit to Hohns, an entrepreneur, who thought creatively about contributing to the current Penn student experience. The Penn Traditions team, led by Christa Leimbach, Director, Penn Traditions, Student & Young Alumni Programs, collaborated with Penn’s resident tree experts at the Morris Arboretum to turn Hohns’ idea into real-life inspiration. “It’s important that the tree is planted that first year,” says Hohns. “Classes identify with their tree and as it grows, so too do these Penn students.”
This blossoming tradition is a win-win for growing Penn’s verdant tree canopy and the most recent arrivals to Locust Walk, who are brimming with potential all their own. “Like Bill, so many Penn students and alumni have positive associations with College Green,” says Leimbach. “It’s a beautiful location on campus, and the class tree planting gives Penn classes a meaningful marker that they’re part of this special community for a lifetime.”
Over the years, the University has intentionally increased the tree canopy so successfully that the campus received accreditation as an arboretum in 2017.
“The class trees become part of Penn’s curated tree collection on campus, and the Arboretum takes care to monitor their growth and keep an updated database,” says Bryan Thompson-Nowak, Director of Education at the Morris Arboretum.
A Global Advisor at the Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania, Hohns has invested in extracurricular programs at Penn for many years. He created and sponsored the ESCAPE program—short for Enabling Student Cultural Access to Penn Entities—which encourages students to enjoy the outdoors, art, and educational programming at the Morris Arboretum, the Arthur Ross Gallery, the Penn Working Dog Center, and other affiliated locations. He and his family have contributed generously to several Penn initiatives over a span of many years.
Coming to Penn should absolutely be an academic experience, but it can also be a life experience.”Bill Hohns, W’74, PAR’00
Beyond bringing a great idea to his beloved alma mater, Hohns has financially supported the tradition from its inception. In 2018, he endowed the program so it would become a permanent fixture at Penn.
During Homecoming 2022, Hohns received the Alumni Award of Merit, Penn’s highest alumni honor, for his inspired philanthropy and decades of engagement. “The Penn Tree Program perfectly illustrates Bill’s careful approach to giving back to Penn, combining his love of trees with his support for students,” says Leimbach. “We are so grateful to Bill for his unique vision.”
