{"id":302876,"date":"2026-10-09T05:36:14","date_gmt":"2026-10-09T05:36:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/302876\/"},"modified":"2026-10-09T05:36:14","modified_gmt":"2026-10-09T05:36:14","slug":"massive-mural-at-collegetowne-campus-in-pottsville-pays-tribute-to-schuylkill-county-pottsville-republican-herald","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/302876\/","title":{"rendered":"Massive mural at CollegeTowne campus in Pottsville pays tribute to Schuylkill County \u2013 Pottsville Republican Herald"},"content":{"rendered":"

A massive mural on Alvernia University\u2019s CollegeTowne campus in downtown Pottsville was celebrated Wednesday, with its creators explaining how the artwork pays tribute to Pottsville, Schuylkill County and the school itself.<\/p>\n

When the project began in 2025, it didn\u2019t start with sketches, but with conversations. Lead muralist Leslie Ramos Garcia of Reading said the team met with Pottsville teachers alongside Alvernia faculty and officials to shape the concept.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe asked a simple question. What makes Pottsville, Pottsville?\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe answers kept coming back to the same things \u2014 coal, energy, the mountains and the Schuylkill River running through it all,\u201d she said. \u201cSo that\u2019s what we painted.\u201d<\/p>\n

The mural adorns the wall that borders the parking lot below Terry Reiley Way. It covers 4,600 square feet and took about 200 hours to paint, Garcia said.<\/p>\n

\"AudienceAudience members applaud during the dedication of the Progress Avenue mural at Alvernia University\u2019s Pottsville CollegeTowne campus on Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026. (AISHWARYA BEHL\/STAFF PHOTO)<\/p>\n

In addition to the college, the campus hosts public events throughout the year, such as outdoor markets, and is also home to the new Golden Kettle cafe, and the Schuylkill YMCA\u2019s Sky Gymnastics program.<\/p>\n

The community helped create sections of the mural at some of those public events, where about 100 children and adults painted within outlined shapes on polyester interfacing, a weather-resistant textile that was then attached like wallpaper. Those contributors helped move the project along and have a stake in the final product, officials said.<\/p>\n

Mural coordinator Mike Miller said he was excited to present the mural to the public, and thankful to those who helped bring it to life.<\/p>\n

\"AlverniaAlvernia University\u2019s wolf mascot is depicted on the Progress Avenue mural dedicated Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026. (AISHWARYA BEHL\/STAFF PHOTO)<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen public art is done right, it doesn\u2019t belong to the artist or even to the property owner,\u201d he said. \u201cIt belongs to the people who walk past it every day. This lot will be the backdrop for many future Pottsville memories, from first days of class to market days.\u201d<\/p>\n

The mural prominently features the words \u201cProgress Avenue,\u201d which is the name of the street where CollegeTowne is located, and represents how both the university and the city are striving to advance themselves, officials said. The words were painted to include a water-texture pattern to symbolize how the Schuylkill River flows through the county.<\/p>\n

The mural features mountains at both ends to reflect the local geography, such as the Blue, Sharp and Broad mountains.<\/p>\n

The painting also includes the Pottsville coat of arms, which depicts coal miners and mining tools.<\/p>\n

The background of the painting has traditional Ukrainian patterns to honor the immigrants who worked in the area\u2019s coal mines.<\/p>\n

There are also numerous references to Alvernia, including the school\u2019s maroon and gold colors, the font of its logo, and a nearly 10-foot wolf painted near the campus water feature to represent the school\u2019s Golden Wolves mascot.<\/p>\n

\"BookmarksBookmarks featuring the Progress Avenue mural were available during the mural\u2019s dedication ceremony on Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026. (AISHWARYA BEHL\/STAFF PHOTO)<\/p>\n

A stethoscope and a heart are included to represent Alvernia\u2019s nursing program, which was the first program on campus and is integral to the college\u2019s educational presence in the region, officials said.<\/p>\n

The university\u2019s motto \u201cto learn, to love, to serve\u201d is included since it embodies the Franciscan values that Alvernia works to emulate, and also ties the themes of community and education together, officials said.<\/p>\n

Since St. Francis was the patron saint of animals and the environment, the mural emphasizes nature and includes several birds, including an eagle, which is both a connection to American culture and the symbol of D.G. Yuengling & Son brewery in Pottsville.<\/p>\n

\u201cI hope people stop here to take pictures,\u201d Miller said. \u201cI hope kids point out the wolf and ask what the patterns mean, or are drawn into the CollegeTowne building because of their interest in the story we created here visually.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"MuralMural coordinator Mike Miller speaks during the dedication of the Progress Avenue mural at Alvernia University\u2019s Pottsville CollegeTowne campus on Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026. (AISHWARYA BEHL\/STAFF PHOTO)<\/p>\n

Alvernia officials said the mural demonstrates CollegeTowne\u2019s continued growth, and the strong relationship between the school and city. Alvernia\u2019s main campus is in Reading, where it also operates a CollegeTowne location. Alvernia President Glynnis Fitzgerald said the artwork helps to connect the university\u2019s two homes.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhether you\u2019re on our Hill Campus (in Reading), downtown at Reading CollegeTowne, or here on Progress Avenue, you\u2019re part of one Alvernia family,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

With the continued support of the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce, the mural will become a landmark and part of Pottsville\u2019s growing community art initiatives for years to come, said Adelle Schade, chief of innovation and pre-college officer for Alvernia University, and founder of the school\u2019s Total Experience Learning program.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe hope this is just the beginning,\u201d she said. \u201cWe look forward to more projects where learning, art and community meet right here on Progress Avenue.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Designer<\/p>\n

Designer Leslie Ramos paints a patterned section of the Progress Avenue mural outside Alvernia CollegeTowne on Aug. 27, 2026. (AISHWARYA BEHL\/STAFF PHOTO)\n<\/p>\n

\"Lead<\/p>\n

Lead muralist Leslie Ramos speaks during the dedication of the Progress Avenue mural at Alvernia University\u2019s Pottsville CollegeTowne campus on Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026. (AISHWARYA BEHL\/STAFF PHOTO)\n<\/p>\n

\"Mike<\/p>\n

Mike Miller works on the Pottsville city seal during ongoing painting of the Progress Avenue mural on Aug. 27, 2026. (AISHWARYA BEHL\/STAFF PHOTO)\n<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The nearly finished Progress Avenue mural highlights the Pottsville city seal, wildlife imagery, and Alvernia University themes on Sept. 1, 2026. (AISHWARYA BEHL\/STAFF PHOTO)\n<\/p>\n

Show Caption<\/p>\n

1 of 4<\/p>\n

Designer Leslie Ramos paints a patterned section of the Progress Avenue mural outside Alvernia CollegeTowne on Aug. 27, 2026. (AISHWARYA BEHL\/STAFF PHOTO)\n<\/p>\n

Expand<\/a><\/p>\n

Community art matters because it changes how residents and visitors experience the city, said Pottsville Councilman Jonathan Marsh, who heads council\u2019s streets and public improvement department.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt gives us another reason to stop, look around and appreciate a place we might otherwise walk past,\u201d he said. \u201cIt brings character to our streets and gives residents something to take pride in.<\/p>\n

\u201cPottsville has a rich history, and we also have talented, creative people helping shape its future. Projects like this bring those things together. They show what can happen when people share an idea and put the time and effort into making it real.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A massive mural on Alvernia University\u2019s CollegeTowne campus in downtown Pottsville was celebrated Wednesday, with its creators explaining…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":302877,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[227,182,139,28,4961,128,130,129,231],"class_list":["post-302876","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-reading","tag-education","tag-local-news","tag-news","tag-pennsylvania","tag-pottsville","tag-reading-city","tag-reading-city-headlines","tag-reading-city-news","tag-schuylkill-county"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/302876","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=302876"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/302876\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/302877"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=302876"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=302876"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=302876"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}