SPRINGDALE (KFSM)-- A 100-foot mural created by Springdale middle school students was recently completed, depicting the culture of the Marshall Islands.
School officials said around 2800 Marshallese students attend Springdale schools. The mural was created by seventh grade students at Helen Tyson Middle School.
"Every day I came to work thinking I have a 90% chance that this is not going to work, and about a 10% chance of success," Art Teacher Lori West said. "But they far exceeded my greatest expectations."
West said the mural is meant to symbolize the problem of the rising sea level in the Marshall Islands. She said it's important for students to understand and learn about current events.
"It's never too early to become involved in those issues that are going to affect not only them locally but in the state of Arkansas, in this country and this world," West said.
Ellie Summers was one of the students who worked on the mural. She said they had to learn how to make silhouettes to create the image.
"We were tracing each other on the wall and stuff and then we took it out there and we magnet-ed them on the wall and traced them with sharpie," Summers said. "Then we painted them with black paint."
Marshellese student Helena Alberttar also helped create the mural. She said working on the project hit close to home.
"It's very special to me to know that there are people that care about us," Alberttar said.
West said they plan to add to the mural in the spring semester. To hear from the students about their experience, watch the video below.
