A towering tree at the entrance to the NIST International School in Bangkok, Thailand, has welcomed students to the school since it opened in 1992. The "chamchuri," a distinctive rain tree known in Thailand, was planted in the 1950s and has thrived through the decades. It continued to grow not just in size but in its meaning to the campus community—symbolizing Thai culture, school history, and commitment to sustainability—as it became an integral part of NIST identity.

When the school embarked on a major campus development plan that called for a new entrance to the school in 2022, the idea of cutting the tree down was a nonstarter. So the advancement team, together with the student service group Eco-School, spearheaded a plan to relocate the spirit tree within the campus.

To support the endeavor, the advancement team launched the fundraising campaign "Once A NISTree, Always A NISTree." The idea for its title reflected the school’s “Once a NISTie, Always A NISTie” slogan used for NIST alumni and leavers.