Highland County Veterans Honor Guard, HHS Art Club hold mural dedication

The Highland County Press

The Highland County Veterans Honor Guard hosted a mural dedication ceremony Friday, May 31 at the VFW Post 9094 on West Main Street in Hillsboro to show the Honor Guard's appreciation to the Hillsboro High School Art Club on a job well done. 

As previously reported, last August, Highland County Veterans Honor Guard Commander Rudy Diskete contacted the art departments at all Highland County high schools to see if they would be interested in entering a contest to paint a patriotic-themed mural on the side of the Honor Guard's bus shelter located at VFW Post 9094, 1000 West Main Street, Hillsboro. 

According to Commander Diskete, only Hillsboro High School entered.

"The Hillsboro art instructor, Tanya Hendricks, from the Hillsboro High School Art Department, was the only response we received," Diskete said. "She said that her art club was up for the challenge. We received a rendering of what they had in mind for the mural last December. At our February meeting, we voted to go head with the project and allowed the Hillsboro High School Art Club to paint the mural. 

"After talking with Tanya, it was decided to make the mural out of four 4x8-foot sheets of plywood. This way, the students could paint the mural at the high school as time permitted.
 
"Several people have been instrumental in getting this project to the finish line," Diskete said.

"Special thanks to: Mary and Chuck Wright from Sherwin-Williams Paint Store donated all the paint and sealers for the project. Chuck Cruea Construction mounted the mural to our bus shelter. Gary Cruea, Richard Emery, Dwight Reynolds and Roy Geiger transported the panels back and forth to the school. Chip Phelps of Papa John's Pizza assisted with pizza for everyone and Rick Wilkin, VFW Post 9094 commander, helped with refreshments."

Hillsboro High School graduate and National Honor Society member Makenna Jurkovac (as selected by the school) received a scholarship from the Highland County Veterans Honor Guard for her efforts on the mural. A donation also was made to the HHS Art Department, and other HHS art club students were recognized Friday, including: Isabell Addison, Gracie Boatman, Anthony Auville, Carys Langston, Lucas Eads, Jayna Florence, Madelyn Jurkovac and Ethan Ballein.

Below, Highland County Veterans Honor Guard Commander Rudy Diskete presents a scholarship to Makenna Jurkovac.