Sovereign Center and Royals Unveil Public Murals Created by Reading School District Students

New Fencing around Administrative Parking Lot Serves as Canvas for Student-Created Murals

Reading, PA – The Reading School District, Sovereign Center and 2013 ECHL Kelly Cup Champion Reading Royals, affiliate of the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League and the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League, today unveiled a series of publicly displayed murals mounted on the new fencing installed at the Sovereign Center Administrative parking lot at the corner of Eighth and Cherry Streets in Reading. The fencing and mural project were made possible with a grant from a local donor who would prefer to remain anonymous. A principle component of the grant was to fund a project that local students could work on after school and create an end product that could be viewed by the general public. The fencing installation was recently completed, while Reading School District students, under the direction of teachers Kate Clewell and Marlene Rathman, designed and created the mural images for display. "Marlene and I were excited for our RSD art students in K-12 to be involved with a community mural project,” said Ms. Clewell. “It is a great opportunity for the students to take ownership and pride in their city, and it's an equally fabulous opportunity to highlight our aspiring Reading artists." The elementary school teachers and students involved in the mural project included Amanda E. Stout Elementary School art teacher Evan Jack and students Solmarie Negron, Tonathium Hilalgo, and Neztalynn Casiano; Lauer’s Park Elementary School art teacher Ericka Evans-Loos and students Ana Zavala, Xavier Ramos-Rivera, Shane Ovid and Danisha Alcarez; Millmont Elementary School art teacher Marlene Rathman and students Shondel Griffith, Ali Rodriguez, Miguel Rivera, and Lynette Delgado; Northwest Elementary School art teacher Nathan Henschel and students Kristian Tirado, Amylee Beriguete, Aleeze Rivera, and Paul Phan; Riverside Elementary School art teacher Alia Emery and students Mark Reid, Fransmarie Velez-Gaspar, Malachi Hunt, and Cassandra Campbell; Tyson-Schoener Elementary School art teacher Rebecca Stoner and students Ryver Ashjean, Michelle Lopez, William Li, and Jackson Garcia; 12th and Marion Elementary School art teacher Migdalia Peterson and Juan Castaneda, Jose Garcia, Aliah Lantigua, Adrel Holmes; 13th and Green Elementary School art teacher Valerie Garvin and students Yaire Garcia, Ave Liciago and Karla Arroyo; 13th and Union Elementary School art teacher Barbara Cimochowski and student Ryan Harris; 16th and Haak Elementary School art teacher Marcie Blatt and students Treves Nolan, Savannah Gonzalez, Derici McCoy, and Cynthia Ortiz; Glenside Elementary School art teacher Doug Hatch and students Ankeyra Rivera, Kevin Rivera, Genesis Batista Hernandez, Christina Garcon, Francisco Javier Fabian Colon, and Jose Ramon Torres; and 10th and Penn Elementary School art teacher Doug Hatcher and students Kristen Batista, Angela Berges, Jose Zavala, Grecia Reyes, Jaylese Rodriguez, Ashley Badia, and Lajada Cuello. The Reading High School students participating in the project included: Christian Almodovar, Eva Blanco, Jonathan Colon, Rhaiza Dejesus, Lisettte De la Cruz, Chislaine Ferraras, Karla Garcia, Francis Gonzalez, Christian Almodovar, Chislaine Ferreras, Allison Grenseman, Bianca Negron, Rachel Hemmig, Jorge Hernandez, Molly Hinzman, Heather Mason, Gamalych Melendez, Juan Mora, Bianca Negron, Eliezier Pellicier, Jalymar Pena, Amanda Rodriguez, Jose Rodriguez, Lauren Dawson, Magalis Gomez, Melody Gonzalez, Jesus Lopez, Samantha Mejia, Kevin Mendoza, Johnny Palaquachi, Elvia Pimental, Monica Plasencia, Rosa Rivas-Cortez, Rodolfo Rodriguez, Winstyn Sloane, Jose Solano, Calvin Tolentino, Nancy Tran, Stephanie Valladeres, and Jose Yepez. The Sovereign Center and the Kelly Cup Champion Royals, who are rewarding the participating students and teachers with tickets to a game in the 2013-14 season, thank our anonymous benefactor, congratulate the staff and students who worked on this project, and encourage everyone in the Greater Reading Region to take a few moments to enjoy the murals as they visit the Sovereign Center in the near future.