FRANKLIN
The eighth-graders at J.P. King Middle School have left a legacy that represents their time there. Over the past few days, their last as middle school students, several have stayed after and painted the sidewalk they take to catch the bus with images, words and phrases that represent who they are individually and who they are as a class.

Three students enrolled in the gifted program were given an opportunity to start a project of their choosing.

“Karina Espino, Lillie Phillips and Makiyah Wiggins contemplated ideas for establishing a senior legacy, creating something that belonged to the seniors in the building. They decided on painting the sidewalk the 8th graders use to get on the buses each afternoon, giving each student their own square to paint,” Elizabeth Burgess, the gifted teacher said.

Espino, Phillips and Wiggins were in charge Senior Sidewalk Legacy project from beginning to end. They were required to secure permission from the administration, determine the number of squares each student could paint and share and get participation from the other students.

The three students also had to figure out what supplies they would need to make this project become a reality and how they would be obtain the required funds. They went to Lowe’s and also priced items online, but after much consideration they decided to go with Lowe’s so they could stay in town.

Espino, Phillips and Wiggins then created a grant and submitted it to the Franklin City Educational Foundation.

“Creating the grant was the hardest part because none of us had ever done anything like that before,” Phillips said.

Burgess added, “Much to their joy, the grant was approved, the money was recently received by the school, and the girls made the trip to Lowe’s. With the great help from Aaron, the assistant manager, Sarah and Beverly in paint, the girls were able to get all of their purchases just in time for the eighth graders to paint.”

The girls then had to get their peers involved in the project. They asked those who were interested in helping paint the sidewalk to submit designs to be approved. They then stayed after school and had their project come to life.

“I think the best part of this is seeing everyone so excited about it,” Espino said. “All the squares are different and represent our individuality.”

Several of those students chose themes having to do with their names, hobbies and their graduating year: 2020.

Wiggins was then asked what she learned through this whole experience.

“I think we all learned what it means to really work together and be in charge of something from beginning to end,” she said.

Burgess, who oversaw the girls, gave them free-range of this project and expressed how proud she was of them for coming up with something like this.

“The three girls may have started a senior tradition,” she said.

However, all the students agreed that in the future, they hope the 8th grade class will come up with their own project and legacy to leave behind.

“But for now, the eighth graders leaving J.P. King this year will have a walk to remember,” Burgess added.