Logansport HS seniors honor school with class gift

Josh Flynn, Pharos-Tribune, Logansport, Ind.
·2 min read
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May 19—Logansport High School seniors experienced an emotional but positive Friday morning, participating in the annual Senior Sunrise and then unveiling the class of 2024's gift to the school.

The gift, a mural painted by local artist and 2017 Logansport graduate Adrian Gazcon, decorates one wall inside the school's coffee shop, The Berry Bean.

The project came about when class president Omar Ruiz reached out to Gazcon about his interest in participating in the project.

Gazcon said the mural was inspired by the eclipse and wanted to think of a design that was unique and special to 2024.

Gazcon said he had been drawing and painting his entire life but didn't begin to take it serious until his junior year of high school. After graduating from IUK, he became an art teacher at Logansport Junior High School. Today he works as a fulltime artist.

"I really like this piece because it feels like a thank you to the amazing experience I've had in Logansport," he said.

Gazcon credited his teaching experience to inspiring him to put all his passion and energy into his artwork.

Ruiz said that when the class officials began to discuss a mural, his mind immediately went to Gazcon.

"As seniors, we have been through so much in this school," he said. "I feel like it's only right as seniors for us to give something to this school to, maybe not inspire, but for future generations to admire."

Ruiz will study architecture in Chicago this fall.

Grace Scott, an instructional coach at the school, has served as the class sponsor for the past four years.

"We have been faced with challenges during their time, dealing with COVID, not being able to have as many community service events and fundraisers so they wanted to make their senior year very special and the senior gift very special," she said.

Much of the funding for the mural came from sales of a Christmas sweatshirt designed by senior Payton Mucker. Gazcon also donated his time and talent to the cause, Scott said.

Scott called the result incredible and beyond her wildest dreams. She hoped other businesses and organizations within the community would reach out to Gazcon for art.

"This is a special project,' Gazcon said. It feels like I'm giving back to the community and class of 2024."