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It Started With A ROAR
Excitement rustled through the Lowell School as students filed in grade-by-grade to see their new Tiger Mural painted on the wall by the gym. The new mural by renowned local artist José Andrés Girón exemplifies the Tiger chant “ROAR”, meaning that everyone at Lowell is successful when we are “Respectful, Orderly and Responsible.” Principal Dana Ramos hosted the event which was attended by leaders from the American Legion, community organizations, and several Phoenix Elementary School District alumni.Mural Funded By Valley Metro
Valley Metro funded the grant that made the mural possible. Jessica Mefford-Miller, Valley Metro CEO, expressed the importance of art to the students and let them know they are all artists.
“We are building a new light rail project right here in your community and part of building light rail projects for Valley Metro is not just transit, but we also invest in communities and neighborhoods, and we invest in art,” Mefford-Miller said. “Art inspires us, it makes us feel good about our community, and this piece, this tiger, makes us very proud to be at Lowell School.”
Words from the Artist
Girón spoke to the students about his journey to becoming an artist.
“After high school, I wanted to go to art school, so that's why I joined the army. I ended up in Vietnam, and I got shot, but I survived and I went to art school, I went to college. I went straight through as an art educator. All my life I've been an artist.”
Local Restaurant Owners/Lowell Alumni Secure Grant
Earl and Mary Rose Wilcox, owners of El Portal Mexican Restaurant, were instrumental in coordinating between Lowell School, Valley Metro, and Girón to complete the mural. “From here on, you all will be leaving Lowell school when you graduate. You're going to be going to high school. You're going to be going to college,” Earl Wilcox said. “Remember that you're always going to be a Lowell Tiger and you're going to have strength and you're going to have power. And you can achieve anything that you want to be in your life. If you want to be a principal like Mrs. Ramos, you can do that. If you want to be a doctor, if you want to be a lawyer, if you want to be a teacher, you all have dreams. And you have the power just like the tiger. You're powerful and you have a lot of strength."
Earl Wilcox, who graduated from Lowell 61 years ago, closed the event by leading the students with a Lowell Tiger roar and offered hope this mural will be a daily reminder to inspire Lowell students to ROAR.
