Thursday, October 1, 2026
Students at Sanford H. Calhoun High School are using art to build connections that stretch far beyond their community.
Through their participation in The Memory Project, a nonprofit initiative that pairs students with children around the world who have experienced hardship, 76 Calhoun students and staff created 82 portraits and identity-based artworks for children in Honduras.
The effort, which ran from November through March, was led by sophomores Ellie Tzaras and Chloe Dujardin, who organized workshops, coordinated materials, tracked progress and led fundraising efforts to support the initiative.
“We wanted to do something that not only would make a community impact, but would make a global impact,” Tzaras said. “We really wanted to make a difference.”
The idea began when Tzaras and Dujardin approached art teacher Nancy Scott about starting an out-of-school service project. Scott introduced them to The Memory Project, which she had previously incorporated into her classroom years earlier. This time, the students took the lead, transforming it into a voluntary, after-school effort.
Weekly workshops, held two to three times per week, provided students with guidance as they worked on their pieces. Scott, along with fellow teacher Gary Solorzano-Ruiz, supported the program by staying after school for extended hours to assist students.
“Art is a powerful tool. It can cross borders — and it will. It can change a person’s life,” Scott said. “This was a sheer act of selflessness and love for a stranger.”
Participation was strongest among freshmen, many of whom found both a creative outlet and a sense of belonging through the program.
“At first, they were a bit scared, they were intimidated,” Tzaras said. “But the more they kept coming to these workshops, they were building friendships. By the end, there wasn’t a single person in the room who wouldn’t go up to someone and say, ‘Hey, what’s up?’”
While the project fostered connection within the school, it also presented logistical challenges. Dujardin said managing a large group of students — initially about 100 participants — required persistence and coordination.
“Some students wouldn’t show up or respond when we asked for updates,” she said. “It was a big challenge trying to get everyone to complete their work, but we got past it and still had a huge number involved.”
In addition to coordinating the artwork, the student leaders organized fundraising efforts to help offset costs associated with the project, including a required participation fee. Donations were collected during a schoolwide event, and a bake sale raised about $250.
“We understand that $15 is different for everyone,” Dujardin said. “So we wanted to take some of that cost off students and make sure everyone could participate.”
The project culminated on March 25 with a group photo and ceremonial send-off of the completed portraits, which will be delivered to children in Honduras.
“That you took time after school to do this project is a beautiful thing,” Solorzano-Ruiz stated in a news release. “The kids in front of your artwork — you are going to make their day.”
Both students said they hope the artwork provides more than just a visual keepsake.
“I hope they feel seen and that someone cares about them,” Dujardin said. “I hope it makes their day.”
For Tzaras, the experience underscored the power of small, personal acts of kindness.
“Donating food and money is important, but making someone smile is different,” she said. “This showed me that even a simple act can make a big impact.”
Dujardin agreed, adding that the dedication of participating students left a lasting impression.
“Some of these kids were in the art room for hours after school, working for someone they’ve never met,” she said. “It made me really proud of what our school was doing.”
Both leaders said they hope to continue organizing service projects in the future, building on what they described as a meaningful and transformative experience for everyone involved.
