Cordova High School celebrates student-led mural project

by Cordova High School Student Union staff

Last year, Cordova High School students decided they wanted a mural to help beautify their school and increase enrollment and pride in the Student Union. Subsequently, they held a mural design contest, in which three students participated and the Student Union members voted on the design they liked best. The winning design was created by Mashaal Al-Yahyaai, an exchange student from the country of Oman, who attended Cordova High School last year. The students applied for and were awarded a grant for $912 from the Sacramento Region Community Foundation’s Grants Advisory Board for Youth (GABY).

Members of the Student Union completed the project this summer, and on Aug. 14 they unveiled the mural, which depicts a scale balancing school and life, a popular theme for high school students.

“Some of the students told me they have never had the opportunity to participate in a project where they could do something to make their lives better,” said Eunice Reyes, coordinator of the Cordova High School Student Union. “At first, we did not know exactly how the mural would make a difference, but after finishing the project, students are expressing how they now feel more confident about what they can do to improve the community.”

The following partners were involved in this mural project: Sacramento Region Community Foundation’s GABY program, Sierra Health Foundation, Folsom Cordova Unified School District’s Family Support Services, UC Davis Pediatrics’ Community and Physicians Together program and Weed & Seed.

The Cordova High School Student Union offers a safe and unique after-school environment for high school students, where they can receive after-school help with homework, learn new skills and explore friendships with other high school students.

For more information, contact Student Union Coordinator Eunice Reyes at (916) 362-1104 x263.