The library now showcases its biggest art piece. A colorful mural at the heart of the media center showcases who we are here at RAHS. The artist, Nitza Rodríguez Benavides (12) strived with passion and talent to make her project come to life.

The mural consists of a display of vibrant aquatic animals in a colorful ocean, with a huge Humpback Whale being a staple of the mural. Also a key piece and element of the mural was the diversity of the setting with its many creatures, reflecting on our many cultures at RAHS and around the globe.

The mural is not only an ode to the artist’s own comfort in their homes, past or present, but also serves as a reminder that here at RAHS students have a place they can call home. Benavides passion to uplift our communities is something that she greatly expresses, “ I thought about making a mural that served as a reminder for all people in our school that they have a place they can come back to.”

In January of 2026, Benavides and a staff member of the library noted a rather empty color block of a wall in the media center. Benavides then sparked up the idea of painting a mural on it.

Much work had to be done for the project to be sprung into life. Benavides worked with librarians, our Principal Dr. Wilson, and our art teacher Mr. Moeller. Many days of planning timelines, budgets, due dates, and coordination were put into play to create the mural.

The grand mural is a reminder of who we are here at RAHA, with our community being in dark times lately, it stays as a perfect representation that students at RAHS will always find home.