"New Beginnings:" Vernon College captures student experience in new mural
Vernon College has never had the enrollment or resources - or the cost - of a major university. But with the help of a local artist, a new mural and splashes of color throughout the halls, the community college is working to have just as much identity as its big-name university cousins. The College’s Century City Center campus unveiled the new mural Wednesday in the student lounge, with representatives from the school and greater Wichita Falls community on hand to commemorate the occasion.
Vernon College director of quality enhancement Donnie Kirk opened the event and introduced the speakers, including mural artist Meagan Le Blanc, Wichita Falls Alliance for Arts and Culture executive director Ann Arnold-Ogden, Wichita Falls Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Ron Kitchens and Vernon College President Dusty Johnston. Others from Vernon College, United Regional hospital and the WFAAC also gathered to see the culmination of a project that began last summer.
Arnold-Ogden said the Alliance helped with finding an artist and getting the project rolling.
“We were approached by Vernon College to facilitate the artist selection, the installation. Basically serve as project managers for not just the murals, but the new wayfinding system that’s been installed as well. So our partnership with Vernon really was a facilitation of the project itself,” Arnold-Ogden said.
The wayfinding system is a series of large painted arrows in hallways that help provide directions around the school. Arnold-Ogden said the system initially had some difficulties, but turned out well.
“The navigation system was certainly a challenge to, well, navigate. But we made it through, and it’s really impactful and great for students and staff alike, especially if you’re new to the facility. But I think the beautiful part about our job is when you let creative people do what they do, it comes out beautifully every time,” Arnold-Ogden said.
Le Blanc said she also designed the mural to be impactful for students. The mural, titled “New Beginnings,” depicts students’ journeys at Vernon College from start to finish.
“They really wanted something that kind of showed entering into college and getting into your field. So that’s what the first and last columns show, and then you have the in-between stages” Le Blanc said, later adding “It was still a really fun process.”
Le Blanc said seeing the finished product was exciting, and that she added a detail to commemorate the moment the mural was completed.“It’s pretty fantastic. Whenever we finished it the first night, actually the clock, we painted in the time that we finished it. So that was fantastic. But we stood here for the longest time just like, “Wow, we finished.” It was great,” Le Blanc said, adding, “Not that I doubted myself, it’s just great to see what you’re capable of.”
Le Blanc completed the mural before the end of the spring semester, and Johnston said students have already taken note of the mural.
“We had a lot of positive student reaction. You heard a little bit about it today, students who made comments while it was being done, talking about the colors and what have you,” Johnston said.
Johnston said the college is looking forward to more students returning or starting in the fall and enjoying the mural.
“I expect them to make comments,” Johnston said, adding “Our whole point is to send a message, as I said earlier. Here’s the path, let’s inspire you to start and study hard and finish.”
This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Vernon College dedicates new mural
