More than 200 Lincoln High School students braved a cold rain Thursday afternoon to protest trees being cut down around their school.

Zen Keenen, 17, a senior, said she organized the protest to send a message to administrators that students care about their school.

Lincoln Public Schools officials said the trees were cut down as part of a renovation project.

“They did this without anyone knowing about it,” Keenen said. “Those trees add character and beauty to our school.”

Students walked out at 1 p.m.,  displaying signs that read “Save our trees” and chanting pro-tree slogans.

They formed a raucous circle in front of the school and sang “Kumbaya” and “Lean On Me.”

“Those trees are a part of the school’s tradition,” said freshman Austin Riggins, 14. “They can’t just cut them down.”

Eduard Tishkov, 17, a sophomore, said he liked the trees for other reasons.

“Now everybody from the office can see what we’re doing out there,” he said.

After about 30 minutes, the protesters went back to class.

Cheri Marti, mother of two Lincoln High, said parents and students should have been told in advance.

“To give out information after the fact is damage control,” said Marti. “The walk-out was a good idea.”

LPS officials said the trees cut Thursday were part of a project that has been in the works for more than a year.

“We want to open up a view of the Capitol and also light up the front of the building,” said Scott Weiskamp, LPS director of facilities.

Lincoln High Principal Mike Wortman said he should have relayed more information to the students, faculty and parents.

“There’s so much information and so many details involved with the project, so how do you share all that with everyone?” he asked.

Wortman said the project would improve the school’s appearance.

“I think it will help people see the beauty of the building,” he said. “We’ll still plant bushes and trees but not ones that are three or four stories high.”

Senior Wil Stillwell, 18, disagreed.

“They want to cut down trees so we can look at the Capitol,” he said. “Well, I think they should cut down the Capitol so we could look at the trees.”

Several trees were cut down a couple of weeks ago across Capitol Parkway from Lincoln High as part of the Antelope Valley Project, city officials said.

But students and parents were surprised to see 21 freshly cut stumps on the school’s front lawn Thursday morning.

Bonnie Skile, 47, of Lincoln said she was dismayed to see workers cutting down trees when she dropped her daughter off Thursday morning.

“Those trees provided her with shade whenever I would pick her up,” she said.

Reach Argenis Villa at 473-7438 or avilla@journalstar.com.