Maricopa High School gets weekend makeover

Thanks to an Ace Hardware Helpful Hands grant, Maricopa High School got a $2,000 facelift over the weekend. It was the only high school in Arizona to benefit from the grant.

On Saturday morning, Mike Richey, owner of Maricopa’s Ace Hardware, his paint department manager, Donna Wallace, MHS Principal June Celaya, assistant principal Aaron Harris, other school staff members and a group of students all pitched in to repaint the school’s multi-purpose room lobby, an adjacent classroom area and the restrooms. As an additional part of the project an accent wall in each of the teachers’ workrooms will be painted at a later date.

“This is an exciting time as we enhance the beauty of our campus,” said Harris, extending his thanks to Dean of Students Krista Barrett, the MHS Link Crew and DECA students for volunteering as part of their community service hours for graduation.

“We are honored to receive this special gift from Ace Hardware,” said Celaya. “A newly painted multi-purpose room will help us continue our commitment to providing our students with the best learning environment possible. Our staff will also be pleased to see the accent walls painted as they add a warm, inviting feel.”

Partnering with local retailers, Ace is providing a $2,000 paint makeover to one deserving high school in each of the 50 states. The company developed the Helpful Hands campaign to give high schools a fresh start by creating environments to motivate learning and invigorate both students and teachers.

“Often when the economy is down and budgets are cut, physical improvements to schools are overshadowed. In the face of this, it’s Ace’s goal to reestablish pride in our community with a fresh coat of paint,” said Ace’s home expert, Lou Manfredini. “The paint makeover at Maricopa High School will be more than just a splash of color for the school. It will mark a new beginning.”

In May, Ace asked consumers to fill out a school nomination form, indicating why their school deserved the paint makeover. Gordon Ponticello, a maintenance staff member, completed an application for MHS; in October it was selected as the Arizona Helpful Hands makeover destination.

“We’re just glad to do this,” said Richey. “It’s another form of our community outreach.”

Photos by Joyce Hollis