Merced middle school students celebrated mural painted by students and local artist

MERCED, Calif. (KFSN) -- Hoover Middle School in Merced is celebrating a special artistic achievement that will have a lasting impact on the campus.

More than 20 students painted a new mural with the help of local artist, Ruben Sanchez. It was shared with parents, administrators, and board members for the first time during a ceremony Thursday.

The mural features images of students doing a variety of activities, from reading to graduating.

The images are all inspired by the school's Hoover Husky Pack, which teaches students to be prepared, accountable, compassionate, and knowledgeable.

The students worked on the mural for about two months as part of an afterschool enrichment program.

Julie Rivard, Hoover Middle School's principal, said, "I'm just proud and proud of the kids, because it was an opportunity for them that they don't often get. They get to come back, years from now and see their artwork on the school and that's a big deal to them >

Principal Rivard said she was excited to offer this opportunity because she was involved in creating three other murals with students when she was an art teacher at Hoover more than a decade ago.

Mr. Sanchez also restored those murals for Thursday's ceremony.

The murals are displayed on an exterior wall of the gymnasium, which is visible from Santa Fe Avenue so they can be enjoyed by the public as well.