Senior Katelyn Rushing decided to make a difference. Starting her junior year, she has painted murals and inspirational images throughout the school.

What started as part of her Girl Scout Gold Award, continued as a school beautification project. 

“The bathrooms and halls looked so bare. I wanted to make it a more fun place to be for the students and staff,”  Rushing said.

Rushing planned her designs then worked with school administrators for approval. She said she took inspiration from pinterest for many of the illustrations.

“Katelyn’s design process was super laid back. She showed us her ideas and let us be creative,” senior Jackson Petty said.

Several students helped Rushing complete the projects. 

“Katelyn walked me around the school, showing me where and why she wanted to put the paintings around. I couldn’t say no,” assistant principal Keith Sanders said. 

The designs aren’t just astethic.

“There is an increasing amount of scientific evidence that proves art enhances brain function. It has an impact on brain wave patterns and emotions, the nervous system, and can actually raise serotonin levels,” according to healing-power-of-art.org.

Rushing said she wants her paintings to impact the school in a positive way.

“Walking past the paintings and knowing that I helped put them together really makes my day better, and I can tell other students are enjoying them as well because they were in awe when they first saw them,” junior Paige Kottman said.