AmeriCorps members, volunteers paint mural at WSR to honor MLK

Marianas High School students who are members of the AmeriCorps and assigned at the William S. Reyes Elementary School in Chalan Kanoa pose before a mural about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. that they, along with other volunteer students, painted on the wall at WSR. From left are Lance Christian A. de la Torre, Zandro Mamauag Jr., Grace Vendiola, and Marben Obando. (Contributed photo)

With the help of other student volunteers, four Marianas High School students who are members of the AmeriCorps program and assigned at the William S. Reyes Elementary School have painted a mural to honor civil rights icon Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on the wall at one of WSR classroom buildings in Chalan Kanoa.

The four MHS students who are AmeriCorps members are Grace Vendiola, Lance Christian A. de la Torre, Zandro Mamauag Jr., and Marben Obando.
The four, along with another MHS student, Adrien Ocampo, all worked together and came up with the design of the mural.

Vendiola thanked all the volunteers who showed up.

De la Torre said Martin Luther King Jr. was a great man who deserves more recognition for all he’s done. He hopes other students will be inspired to help out the community.

Student members of the AmeriCorps and other volunteer students help paint a mural of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and about equal access to literacy and education at the William S. Reyes Elementary School in Chalan Kanoa. (Contributed photo)

“I also want to give thanks to our awesome site supervisors, Ms. Calla and Ms. Chelsea, for all of the help they’ve given us,” he said.
Mamauag said he did it because he wants to give back to the community.

Obando said he appreciates everyone’s contribution to the project.

The AmeriCorps students came up with the idea of a mural last November. The mural, which is near the main entrance of WSR, is expected to be fully completed by the end of this month.

Calla Eichenberger and Chelsea Yangirelfel, who are the site supervisors for AmeriCorps at WSR, have been supervising the project.

Eichenberger said the mural is a message about equal access to literacy and education, with Martin Luther King Jr. as the main focus.
“We wanted to honor how [King] stood for equal rights and about being good citizens,” she said.

Eichenberger said King fits with the idea behind AmeriCorps, who are volunteers and that they help teach reading to students that are struggling.

Student members of the AmeriCorps and other volunteers pose for a group photo before the mural they painted on the wall at the William S. Reyes Elementary School in Chalan Kanoa. (Contributed photo)
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Aside from the four MHS students, others who have been assisting the project are some AmeriCorps members from Koblerville Elementary School, and some volunteer students from MHS.

The other volunteers are members of the Saipan Southern High School Interact Club, National Honor Society Saipan Southern High School, MHS Mighty Dolphins, My Wave, WSR student volunteers, and some community members.

Eichenberger said the AmeriCorps had been wanting to do this mural since when they started at the school in November 2020. She said they came up with a solid idea for the project last Nov. 20.

“I just want to shout out for the…high school volunteers that we have. It’s wonderful to see high school students being active in their community in volunteering,” Eichenberger said. (PR)