Art students at Merrimack Valley High School have joined, for the second year, the Memory Project (MemoryProject.org), a nationwide initiative in which art students create original portraits for children around the world who have been orphaned, neglected, or disadvantaged. Three MVHS students from Andover – Stephanie Croteau, Lexie King, and Rhiannon White – were among those who participated in this worthwhile and rewarding experience.

Given that children in such situations often have few personal keepsakes, the purpose of the portraits is to provide them with a special memory of their youth, to honor their heritage and identity, and to help them build a positive self-image. The project also provides an opportunity for young Americans to open their hearts to children who have endured many hardships and to promote the value of sharing kindness with others.

The Memory Project has been featured on national television several times, most notably when Katie Couric concluded her very first broadcast of the CBS Evening News with a story about the project’s success at an orphanage in Nicaragua. The project has also been covered by major newspapers and magazines throughout the country, all telling the story of students who have participated.

The MVHS students who participated are all members of the 1172 chapter of the National Art Honor Society. The NAHS is dedicated to recognizing students who show outstanding aptitude in art and is committed to fostering excellence and dedication to the pursuit of art. Membership is based upon art scholarship, character and service. The Memory Project continues to afford our students a wonderful opportunity to fulfill their obligation to the service portion of their pledge.

The students receive photos of children who are waiting for portraits, and in turn work to create the portraits. Once completed, the Memory Project delivers the portraits to the children. In total, the MVHS students have created portraits for ten children in Ghana. The Memory Project is a program of the nonprofit organization My Class Cares, based in Madison, Wisconsin. Since the project began in 2004, more than 30,000 portraits have been produced by art students around the country.