Newberg High School and George Fox University launched a poster project with a positive message on Feb. 21.
GFU students will mentor NHS students, guiding them through the design project, which they plan to complete as a team within two weeks.
The Origin of the Collaboration
The project came about after GFU Chair and Assistant Professor Department of Art and Design Marvin Eans asked local teachers to collaborate with his Essence of Design students, who focus on collaborating with the community to create design projects.
“I believe when we collaborate more together, innovative things can happen, bringing everyone together in community to express ideas and come up with solutions that can resonate collectively,” Eans said.
NHS Teacher Ashley Faiman leaped at the chance to bring her Graphic Design students the experience of a real-life design experience at a college level with local experts.
“I think CTE, Career Technical Education, is all about preparing students for the next level and giving them a sense of what is available,” Faiman said.
For Faiman, one stand-out aspect of the project is its focus on uplifting students through encouraging messaging.
“We’re not just making art to make art. We’re making art to make a difference in the world around us,” Faiman said. “I hope it’s going to help students see that they’re not alone in their struggles and they don’t go unseen. We see you going through it, and you’re not alone. We’re here with you. When you see something out there as a reminder, you see that someone else gets it too.”
The Art of Making a Poster
The assignment was broad, allowing students creative freedom: In short, come up with text for an inspirational poster. Make and share said poster. The students broke into small groups, with a GFU student leading each group in brainstorming ideas.
GFU senior Gracen Livingston helped a group of NHS students pinpoint what they imagined an affirmative poster would look like and what it might say using a list of examples and ideas.
“Do you think students would like to hear a message of peace, hope, or love?” Livingston asked.
“I think, hope,” NHS junior Ana Mena said quietly.
Adrienne Peña, a GFU senior, listened quietly to her group, holding a composition notebook in her hands.
“I was a little nervous at first, but this group is great,” Peña said.
Peña’s group (NHS juniors Kendall Escamilla, Piper Wilkinson, and Liam Williams) got engaged in brainstorming quickly, discussing how to approach a project with a broad topic.
“The reason I believe the assignment is so broad is it’s an opportunity to solve a broad issue,” Williams said.
Wilkinson looked ahead at what the project could offer in post-high school life.
“It helps us prepare for what we want to do in the future,” Wilkinson said.
Escamilla stayed firmly in the present, thrilled with his teammates.
“It’s good, working together to get to know these two better,” Escamilla said.
Ben Haley, a GFU junior, told his group (NHS students Haylee Wilson and Shepherd Tester) that NHS students are the perfect project leaders to come up with a message for an encouraging poster to adorn the NHS campus.
“You have a good knowledge of the target audience — because you are the target audience,” Haley said.
Wilson, a junior at NHS, was already considering the size of the student population and how many lives they could touch through this project.
“It will reach out to a lot of people with how broad it is,” Wilson said. “We have so many ways we can do the project.”
Tester, an NHS freshman, enjoyed the independent nature of the assignment.
“I respect that the students, we, ourselves, are doing it,” Tester said.
The Project’s Impact
This March, be on the lookout for the results of this student-led project, positive posters all over the NHS campus, and, potentially, struggling students with a little more hope.
Faiman is delighted with the project and glad she stepped up to do it for the CTE experience her students will have and for the hope they will bring to everyone. Through projects like these and everyday support, Faiman hopes that students will get this message.
“At the end of the day, I hope that is what all students get from their teacher: They have a safe space and they’re cared for,” she said.