First Posted: 8/8/2013
Justin Bella, a member of the Wyoming Area Catholic Class of 2013, dedicated his painting entitled “Our Journey” to the administration, faculty and staff at Wyoming Area Catholic on graduation night.
The painting is filled with symbolism reflecting Bella’s Catholic education. He explains the imagery he used in his work, “The Cross represents faith which is always at the forefront of our lives. The 20 flowers at the base of the Cross represent my fellow graduates. The open field represents the students that will take this journey after us. The mountain represents the obstacles that we are prepared to overcome as we continue through life. And finally, the blue sky represents the bright future that lies before us as we graduate from Wyoming Area Catholic School.”
Bella has taken art lessons for six years and decided to paint the mural on behalf of his class to thank the teachers, administration and staff for guiding the Class of 2013 on its “Journey.”
Mrs. Eileen Rishcoff, newly-appointed principal of Wyoming Area Catholic, hung the picture in the center hall of the school to be enjoyed by future generations of Wyoming Area Catholic School children.
Shari Bella, Justin’s mother, commented, “I knew that the teachers at Wyoming Area Catholic were very challenging and provided an environment that supported academic excellence and that, upon graduation, Justin would be well prepared for high school. This painting and the meaning behind all the elements showed me how much he has grown as a young man during his years at Wyoming Area Catholic School.”