Marshall County High School student Hallie Riley is committing her senior year to promoting kindness in her community. She has been working with Benton Mayor Rita Dotson, the City Council, the Guess Anti-Bullying Foundation, and MAKE owner and artist Kajsa Housman on creating a kindness mural downtown.
Bella Barrett, a sophomore at Marshall County High School, was selected by the Mayor and City Council from among 60 entries from students. The contest was hosted by the MCHS Kindness Club.
Work on the mural begins Monday, October 15, at 201 East First Street in Benton.
Housman and Rob Estes, a local muralist, will meet Kindness Club members along with club sponsor and teacher Stephanie Fisk at the mural site at 9:30 a.m. Monday to begin projecting the winning artwork on a 8 foot x 12 foot alucobond backdrop.
Students, including Barrett, will begin painting at 4 p.m. Tuesday and will continue that work on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons. Housman will finalize the mural on Friday.
The Kindness Club also begins a 21 Days of Kindness on Tuesday in honor of the 21 victims of the school shooting. In addition, Riley plans to deliver Buddy Benches to two elementary schools in Marshall County during Red Ribbon Week.