Pictured Above: Luke Hoang, Hannah Dial, Samuel Flores, Jesus Mediola, Brooke Johnson, Sheridan Adair, Isabella Sosa, Kloe Uscinski, Zoe Rodriguez, Yaliza Zambrano, Madison Douglas, Nevaeh Broussard, Mr. Adrian Gipson Not Pictured: Jose Alcaraz, Alicia Banuelos, Andres Benitez, Tamiyah Bernstine, Xiomora Bravo, Kelsey Brisco, Armando Calhoun, Kimberly Campos, Amalia Charping, Priscilla Cortes, Alyiah Cosey, Alizah Davies, Khalik Francis, Kimberlee Hernandez.
By Leslie Fuentes
Since the fall, art students from Guy M. Sconzo Early College High School have worked on transforming the Early Childhood Center into a vibrant and welcoming space by painting murals throughout the campus.
At the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year, the campus formerly known as North Belt Elementary, became the new home of the Humble ISD Early Childhood Center.
“We wanted to make the building our own, and we knew we needed the help of our big brothers and sisters,” Early Childhood Center Coordinator Amanda Price said. “I reached out to all the high schools to help inspire our Pre-K students and show them what they can look forward to as they grow and move on to eventually attend any of the high schools.”
With that goal in mind, Price invited art students from all of Humble ISD’s high schools, including Sconzo Early College High School, to contribute to a mural project that would beautify the entire campus. The initiative aimed to get high school students involved in shaping the environment for the district’s youngest learners.
Sconzo Early College High School students are the first to participate in the mural project. Divided into two teams, they alternate every Friday to work on the mural, with each group contributing to a portion of the artwork.
“It’s been such a heartfelt project,” Price shared. “The high schools have been so eager to put their mark on our littlest learners. It’s been wonderful to see them interact with the kids as they pass by. Some of the young students have said, ‘I can’t wait to be a Knight when I grow up!’”
Adrian Gipson, the Dual Credit Art Teacher and Art Club Facilitator at Sconzo, saw this project as an opportunity to both showcase the students’ skills and get them involved in a meaningful community project.
“This is the perfect chance for our students to give back to the community,” Gipson, the 2024-2025 Sconzo Early College High School Teacher of the Year, said. “Not only are they expressing their own creativity, but they’re also learning the value of community involvement, cooperation and teamwork. Plus, they’re earning community service hours for their college resumes.”
“I’m grateful for the chance to visit the campus on Fridays, help bring it to life and show students what they can look forward to as they get older,” Sconzo freshman Yaliza Zambrano said. “Our mural represents unity and growth, featuring a calm, outdoor environment with trees to symbolize those themes.”
The students’ mural depicts a mountainous landscape theme that includes the baby mascot versions of each of the high schools. The students will also work on enhancing a sea-themed mural in the cafeteria with a baby knight mascot that is scuba diving.
“I haven’t been doing much painting because I want this to be their project,” Gipson explained. “I’m guiding them with techniques like color theory and aerial perspective, but they’re the ones bringing the mural to life. They’re learning how to work together and use a consistent style to create a unified piece.”
The most exciting moment for Price was when the students completed the very first layer of paint, turning a wall from a plain beige color to a bright, beautiful scene.
“The mural is so colorful and bright,” Price said. “Every time students walk by, they stop and say, ‘We have more mountains!’”
Sconzo students are expected to complete their section of murals by the end of January. In December, students from Kingwood High School began working on their own phase of the mural project, and this spring, students from Atascocita, Kingwood Park, Summer Creek, and Humble High Schools will begin adding their contributions to the Early Childhood Center.
Price envisions murals throughout the entire campus, with each high school adding its unique touch to create a collaborative, colorful space.
Left Photo: Sheridan Adair, a junior at Sconzo Early College High School, paints a baby mascot version of the school’s Knight in a hallway at the Early Childhood Center. Right Photo: Art students from Sconzo Early College High School work on their mural, which features a mountainous landscape theme and includes baby mascot versions of each of the school's mascots.