The holiday displays at this year’s LIGHTS in Liberty event have a special touch — much of what families are posing with was built and painted by Liberty High School students.
Roughly 84 students from the school’s Construction and Building Trades and Fine Arts departments spent the last several weeks building stages, cutouts, and backdrops now scattered throughout the Vera Faye Daniel Pavilion and Liberty City Hall square. Their work includes the photo stage for Santa and Mrs. Claus, a separate stage for Panther Claws, Santa’s sleigh, and more than 20 different spots where families can take pictures.
The idea started with LIGHTS in Liberty committee member Betty Runkle, who said she stumbled across the inspiration in a Hallmark Christmas movie.
“I thought it was the cutest thing ever,” Runkle said. “I found some ideas and presented them to the LIGHTS in Liberty steering committee. Our goal was to provide the community with various photo opportunities for their families in the Vera Daniel Park.”
Runkle said the displays aren’t just for the Tuesday night events — which continue through Dec. 9 and Dec. 16. Families are welcome to stroll through the square any time of day to take pictures. An antique fire truck parked nearby adds one more festive backdrop.
While she pushed for the photo cutouts and backdrops, Runkle is quick to say that the real momentum behind LIGHTS in Liberty came from City Councilwoman Debbie Duggar.
“Debbie is a force to be reckoned with,” she said with a chuckle. “She took the idea for LIGHTS in Liberty and ran with it.”
Students take the lead
The hands-on work for the displays began in Charles “Ed” Nichols’ Construction and Building Trades classes. His students — referred to as the woodshop team — cut, assembled, and primed each piece before sending them to the Fine Arts Department for finishing touches.
Woodshop Team
Braden Johnson
Keith Vollert
Lynard Johnson
Mark Stelly
Seely Ford
Steven Parker
Timothy Land
Victor Urvina
Fernando Lopez
Isaac Castro
Jesus Herrera
Lane Rich
Marcos Lopez
Braxton Gresham
David Careaga
Matthew Parker
Micheal Nazzario
Nathan Ramirez
Noah Ford
Rylee Wunch
Wyatt Land
Once the structures were ready, Fine Arts teacher Ross Meche and his art students stepped in to paint the backgrounds, add line art, and finish the details to bring each display to life.
Line Art & Final Touches
Andrea Ruiz
Bailey Ojeda
Cynthia Gomez
Pholina Hy
Rylee Shelton
Flora Raines
Ariel Ramirez
Isabella Reyna
Jessie Fain
Background / Painting / Priming
Adriana Nazzario
April Guzman
Daisy Hernandez
Dayami Cruz
Elizabeth Gerardo
Humberto Martinez
Juan Villavincencio Flores
Krystabel Ibarra
Laia Turner
Leslie Lule
Lesly Parga
Mikayla Putnam
Abby McMillen
Carlos Netro
Jacob Trahan
Joshua Allison
Marcos Lopez
Michaela White
Pedro Alvarez
Yandel Suarez
Zitlally Suarez
Aiden George
Annabelle Garcia
Christian Gutierrez-Bullock
Emma Richardson
Jaiden Alvarez
Jeronimo Diaz
Kaylin Heuitt
Leilyah Chapman
Maci Lutz
Tara Baldridge
Za Lyn Ford
Alonzo Lopez
Axel Guzman
Axel Lazo
Brandon Shambley
Branson Beck
Brissett Acuna
Carson Alvarez
Carter Osborne
Cohen Dubois
Daniela Lopez
Jackson Blackburn
Jacob Rawlinson
Jason Paul
Jordan Whisengunt
Kinley Erskins
Mariah Dugat
Mason Matlock
Mason Beagle
Ryan Hernandez
Ryleigh Fregia
Serenity Stokes
Woodrow Harwell
Celebrating the seniors
Several seniors contributed to this project and were recognized by their teachers for their leadership and steady work throughout the process.
Senior acknowledgements: Andrea Ruiz, Bailey Ojeda, Rylee Shelton, Flora Raines, Ariel Ramirez, Jessie Fain, Braden Johnson, Keith Vollert, Lynard Johnson, Mark Stelly, Seely Ford, Steven Parker, Timothy Land, Victor Urvina, Adriana Nazzario, April Guzman, Daisy Hernandez, Dayami Cruz, Elizabeth Gerardo, Humberto Martinez, Juan Villavincencio Flores, Krystabel Ibarra, Laia Turner, Leslie Lule, Lesly Parga, and Mikayla Putnam.
For Nichols and Meche, the project was about more than sawdust and paint. It was a chance to give students something meaningful to contribute to their hometown.
“I wanted them to feel like they put a touch into it,” Meche said. “I don’t know if they genuinely appreciate it at this stage in their lives, but they will in the future. I always tell them that art is important, but there are two things that are more important — being involved in their communities and doing it in a safe way.”
Absolutely wonderful. Excellent.