By Jennifer Misthal
The mural, officially unveiled Monday afternoon at a ribbon-cutting ceremony, was made by 14 students in 10 hours, spanning a total of three days. After completing this year's round of Advanced Placement exams earlier this month, these students gave up one Friday afternoon and two Saturday mornings to work on it, a sacrifice hospital administrator Sylvia Catera described as commendable.
The project originated last year during Deborah Jackson's leadership class, prompting students to seek funding from the Penny Harvest Program in January last year. The program is sponsored by Common Cents New York, an organization committed to encouraging community involvement, social justice and equal opportunities. Through the program, students turn collections of pennies into dollars to pay for projects. Jackson, student activities coordinator, said the students gathered $200.
The idea to paint a mural in the hospital was logical for senior Victoria Sukhnandan. “I live near the hospital. It's convenient and also nice to do,” she said.
But other students found the mural appealing for different reasons.
“It's long lasting,” senior class secretary SriLaxmi Ramsammy said. “It was a chance for everyone to get creative and put their own personal touches (on a project).”
The mural left members of the hospital staff grateful for the new contribution to the hospital's Family Care Center.
“I think it's amazing. We thank the students. You put in the hard work,” Alan Roth, chairman of family practice, said. “What they've done is a tremendous effort. They're extremely talented young students.”
For Roth the mural was about the students' eagerness to help the community. “The environment they created makes it more relaxing for the patients during their visit here,” he added.
Although Catera said she was more than willing to work with Richmond Hill students, she later became apprehensive about their art skills. It was the finished product, however, that made her proud to have had a part coordinating the project.
“They did such a beautiful job. When we saw it, we were floored. It was absolutely gorgeous. It's like professional work,” Catera said.
This is the second mural to be painted by Richmond Hill High School students. Last May, they worked on another mural in the pediatric waiting room. It was then that these students proved responsible to Jackson, who only attended one painting session.
“They conducted themselves in a way Richmond Hill could be proud,” she said. But Sukhnandan, student council vice president, said she and her fellow students still managed to have a good time.
“We had fun painting. We joked around; we painted ourselves,” she said.
The students bought paint and other supplies at the Home Depot, but were careful not to exhaust their funds. Sukhnandan said she hopes next year's senior class will continue painting murals at Jamica Hospital.
Reach intern Jennifer Misthal by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 173.
