Best of CASE Asia-Pacific Region Award
 

Institution: NIST International School

Title of entry: Once a NISTree, Always a NISTree Campaign

About this entry: In the 1950s, a "chamchuri," a distinctive ‘raintree’ known in Thai, was planted at the NIST school entrance. Over the decades, it has witnessed the transformation of the school. As the first students entered NIST on 13 August 1992, they walked beneath the sprawling branches of this towering tree at the forefront of our campus. Year after year, thousands of students, parents, teachers, and staff passed by, and despite the many challenges in the NIST history, the 'raintree' continues to thrive.

As part of NIST campus development plan, we needed to create a new entrance to the school, at the place where the tree is. Rather than removing the tree, the NIST community, spearheaded by the Advancement team, student service group 'Eco-School', we collaborated with the Big Tree Foundation. Together, we successfully relocated the 'raintree' to a central location within the NIST campus. To support this endeavor and introduce the newly formed NIST Advancement Team, we launched a fundraising campaign titled "Once A NISTree, Always A NISTree." The campaign garnered an impressive total of THB 602,845 (USD 21,299), surpassing the costs associated with the relocation process.

The success of the "Once A NISTree, Always A NISTree" initiative inspired another campaign known as the ‘The NIST Giving Tree’. In this ongoing fundraising campaign, members of the NIST community have the opportunity to purchase a leaf, which is then placed on the donor wall in a prominent location at the school. This will be a symbol of our growth.