SOUTH BEND, Ind. (WNDU) – Art from two Michiana high school students is being showcased at two McDonald’s locations as part of McDonald’s Celebration of Culture and Community initiative for Hispanic Heritage Month.
Twenty students from John Adams High School submitted drawings for a chance to have their projects showcased in a local McDonald’s.
Mateo Pacheco-Aguilar, a ceramics student, entered the contest weeks ago. He did not expect to win.
“It’s unbelievable because I mostly did it not really trying to gain anything from it,” he said. “Now that I have, I don’t know, it feels good knowing something so little can do something so big.”
Drawing displayed as 5-foot mural
Pacheco-Aguilar’s art was turned into a 5-foot mural. It was displayed Tuesday at the McDonald’s on Miami Street in South Bend.
He also won $1,000. The John Adams High School Art Department received a $500 check.
Amanda Zablocki, an art teacher at John Adams High School, said the money will go toward supplies.
“We want to have our kids have the best opportunity possible with the best supplies. So, that’s really going to help us get some nicer supplies,” she said. “We can bring some stuff in for them to use. It will go right back to the students for them to be able to use on their projects.”
Second student’s art to be revealed Wednesday
Pacheco-Aguilar was not the only student in the community to win the contest.
A student from Goshen High School also won. Their art will be revealed on Wednesday.
South Bend owner cites community and heritage
James Negre, owner and operator of the South Bend McDonald’s on Miami Street, said he wants to highlight community and honor Hispanic Heritage Month at his store.
“As a Hispanic, art is so important to our community,” Negre said. “This is a program that’s actually been national now. And we’re just very glad to participate and bring out the Hispanic culture to the rest of the community and help forge some unity and some shared experience between the two.”
Both art projects are expected to stay up through the next month.
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