Nicholls art students and local church volunteer for service day

Nicholls Art Department and House of Prayer of Thibodaux volunteered to make cosmetic changes to West Thibodaux Middle School on Sept. 29, 2018.

House of Prayer organized this day of service to encourage the students of West Thibodaux Middle School and show them that they had the community’s support in their future endeavors.

With local support from donors and from House of Prayer’s own funds, they were able to supply new furniture, painting and art work to the school.

Well over 200 volunteers from House of Prayer, members of the Thibodaux community and the Nicholls art department worked to repaint the teachers’ lounge, principal’s office and bathrooms. There was new furniture added to the principal’s office and teachers’ lounge.

With the guidance of Trisha Rabalais, associate professor of art at Nicholls, art students designed several unique murals. Over 30 Nicholls art students painted the murals on Saturday. The purpose of the artwork was to add life to the school and uplift the spirits of the students.

As an educator, Rabalais said she feels that a school environment plays a vital role in how well a student performs in school. Her goal was to use the art work to make the students feel more at home and make their school a place they feel proud to go to.

Rabalais said the dedication the students showed was incredible.

“The response from my students is overwhelming, so that is really making me proud,” Rabalais said.

Rabalais’s Art 450, Typography II, class helped design the big murals in the office, bathrooms and the courtyard. Students from Rabalais’s Art 359, Typography I, class also helped repaint the bathroom stalls.

Mandy Holloway, outreach director of House of Prayer, said that the idea to host West Thibodaux Middle School for their service day came from the local Christian club at the school. Members of House a Prayer were interacting with the middle school students and felt the school needed some work.

“We felt we were doing life with these kids twice a week, and walking through the school we thought it could really use some love,” Holloway said.

Ann Toups, House of Prayer member, said she was proud to be a part of the project and proud to be a member of her church community. She also said that it was positive and encouraging to see so many of her church members help support the local school.

Local vendors from around the area donated supplies, money and labor to help accomplish the goal of the weekend. Lowe’s, Home Depot, Sherwin Williams, Lynn’s Furniture store and many other places donates supplies and furniture for the project. Local food vendors also supplied food for those working at the school.