METRO Collaborates with Local School District to Display Student Artwork

Four local high schools in the Alief Independent School District are turning daily commutes into moments of inspiration. Student artwork was installed at bus shelters near Kerr High School, Alief Taylor High School, Hastings High School, and Elsik High School.

METRO collaborated with Alief ISD to transform the appearance of the bus shelters, allowing students to design pieces that were meaningful expressions of youth voice and vision.

In April, METRO hosted several ribbon-cutting ceremonies to celebrate the installations and congratulate the students on their hard work and dedication to the project.

“These students are our future. It’s important to get them involved in community events such as this, so that in the future, they are more likely to play an active role in the community," said Board Member Rev. T. Leon Preston. "These bus stops will serve as a daily reminder to these students and their peers that if we can do this to improve our community today, they can do more in the long run.” 

Kimberly Caceres, the winner from Kerr High School, said this was an uplifting experience for her as a young artist.

“This is such a really cool opportunity. I’ve been drawing for a really long time, and I never thought my art would be displayed for everyone to see it,” Caceres said. “I never imagined something like this would happen to me. It’s a really exciting experience and I learned a lot from it.”

Kimberly Caceres stands in front of her bus shelter artwork design.

The Bus Shelter Art Program fosters creativity by encouraging students to apply their skills in a real-world setting. They brainstorm ideas, translate them into artwork, and see their visions come to life in their own neighborhoods.

Secondary Fine Arts Lead Keri Reynolds was happy to see the students filled with excitement as they stood next to the winning art pieces. She expressed how important it is for students to be involved in community engagement at a young age.

“They see the role that art plays beyond just the school environment. They see how their artwork can impact and make a difference in others and enhance the community,” Reynolds said. “It’s a huge confidence boost for the students. Just through this partnership with METRO, we’ve had several students develop an interest in graphic design after touring METRO. They've seen where their talents and creativity can take them.”