Artistic representation
Zach Petroff
From Left: Sydney Isler,16, art teacher Mike Defazio, and Hayla Lewis stand next to the mural the two sophomores at Laurel Highlands High School created for Black History Month.
Wanting to ensure her fellow students were represented, 16-year-old Hayla Lewis, a sophomore at Laurel Highlands High School, and her friend Sydney Isler, 16, created a mural that highlights key figures in the ongoing struggle for equality in America. Inspired by a Pinterest post, the duo combined construction paper, chalk, and stencils to depict a Black woman with hearts for hair and eyes, set against a backdrop featuring notable civil rights advocates like Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, and Ruby Bridges.