The African-American Mural Competition on the topic “Living the Dream” was a competition to raise awareness of African-American History Month and show different backgrounds and different accomplishments.

The woman behind the project was Assistant Principal Caitlin Stravino. The goal of this project was to educate and have students make connections between empowered African Americans in the past and the people who surround them now. Stravino also made her own mural consisting of African-American track athletes, both past and present.

The participants this year varied. There were around seven mural entries, but each mural had a different number of people working on it. Stravino added that “some had one or two people working on it, and there was one with an entire class.”

However, Stravino has hopes that participation will increase in the following years.

“I think every time you start something new people aren’t familiar with what it is or know how to get involved,” Stravino said. “If they see examples of the work around the building, they will more likely try to [get involved].”

A team of faculty members used a rubric to score each mural and select a winner.

The first place mural was “Without the Old, There Would Be No New,” which was created by Rita Lee, Kaire Henry, and Cassie Raymond in Ms. Ockert’s 2B class. The second place piece was “Living the Dream” by Nijah Ruffin and Nailhea Amaya, and there was a tie for third between “You Can’t Hide that Spartan Pride” and “Living the Dream…Chasing the Gold!”

In “Without the Old, There Would Be No New” the artists chose to include contemporary figures, and activists.

“We decided to choose successful African Americans that have definitely influenced how African Americans are looked at,” Lee, who led the first place group, said.

“In a lot of modern art when they’re trying to express something they’ll take realistic pictures and black out their faces,” added sophomore and teammate Kaire Henry.

This influenced the group in their design.

You put forth their most noticeable feature,” said Lee. “You can still tell who it is, but without showing their entire face, so that you notice the message behind it more than the details.”

The winners will be awarded a pizza party.