As DePaul College Prep continues to grow in its entirety, so do the communities integrated within it. Last year, Victoria Aguilar, one of DePaul Prep’s beloved art teachers, worked to give DePaul Prep a new one, the National Art Honor Society: a platform for young artists to express their unique talents and share their creativity with others. Right now, NAHS is working to help decorate DePaul College Prep by making custom works for teachers’ classrooms. 

At the end of last school year, the NAHS students began creating posters for classrooms around the building. Although students and staff loved this project, it wasn’t being recognized enough by the general student body, often being overlooked without the popularity it deserved. This year they took it a step further by making the central theme of NAHS to beautify the school, starting their project with DePaul College Prep teachers.

To start the project, Aguilar, head of NAHS, sent out a Google form to the school finding teachers that would become “clients” for the students in NAHS. About 60 teachers responded with interest, and then it was up to the students to decide what teachers they wanted to work with. Students then set up meetings to discuss what kind of artwork their teacher wanted in their rooms. These works ranged from physical paintings, to digital pieces, and even to crochet works. Now, students work on their projects during NAHS meeting time, with some already finished.

There is a large amount of variety in the types of artwork involved in these requests, as students are given the opportunity to use their own creativity and freedom to portray what their teachers ask for. Some teachers have asked for subject-specific work, while others have used this to let their students showcase their talents in creative and humorous ways. Keep an eye out for a renaissance look-alike painting of Rabideau, one of DePaul Prep’s most diligent deans. 

Members of NAHS reflect very positively on the project. “It honestly just brightens up my day to work on them. I like helping my teachers lighten up their rooms,” said Cecelia Sekowski, a junior in NAHS. Having this project gives students and teachers a pop of color to enjoy in school. It also helps promote the arts at DePaul College Prep as a whole, giving students an independent outlet outside of the classroom. As other new clubs such as painting clubs become popular, DePaul College Prep students are eager to see where art may expand even further in school.

“We want to use this project and Art Honor Society as a way to develop relationships and give students ways to just be more artsy in school,” said Aguilar, reflecting on how the project shapes the community as a whole. Aguilar also commented how it seems to foster teacher-student relationships, especially through connections with new teachers and shared interests.

As DePaul College Prep’s art program continues to grow, members of the community are excited to see how it will benefit students and teachers alike.