PULLMAN, Wash. – President Elson S. Floyd joined members of the Horticulture Club and others Wednesday for the annual tradition of planting a tree in honor of graduating seniors.
A red horse chestnut tree donated by the club was planted on the hillside north of the Lewis Alumni Centre, part of the Washington State University Arboretum.
![Tree-Planting-600](https://s3.wp.wsu.edu/uploads/sites/609/2014/05/Tree-Planting-600-300x216.jpg)
The tradition began in 1985 with former President Sam Smith. The trees originally were planted near the former entrance to campus between the president’s residence and Sloan Hall.
A committee that oversees the arboretum selects the tree variety. Trees are planted in the arboretum, and the committee has named the southeast corner of the arboretum the Presidential Tree Area.