(Delaware and Chester Counties, PA)—For Lydia Kirkpatrick of Springfield, it started as a dream. Passionate about her Studio Art major at Delaware County Community College, she and her fellow art students wanted to leave a part of themselves on the College’s Marple Campus—a mural to be displayed in an area frequented by students, which would resonate with them for years to come.

“My Mom and Dad both went to DCCC. Our family has roots here. I wanted to leave a legacy from the Class of 2026.” Kirkpatrick says.

First, she enlisted fellow student Zoe Maldonado of Ridley in reorganizing the Art & Design Club for the College.

“It was necessary to have a space for students to make fun art, not fine art. It was something we made possible through fundraising and working with College administration,” Maldonado says. “It was exciting to help artists create and connect in the same space, as most of us in the Associate of Fine Arts program are solitary people.”

Encouraged by DCCC’s Director of Campus Engagement, Allyson Gleason, Kirkpatrick searched campus for spots where a mural might be feasible and easily viewed by students. “I found an empty corner near the Learning Commons—the College’s Library—that needed something. Allyson said I’d need to talk to Facilities.”

To Kirkpatrick’s amazement, “Everyone in Facilities, including Tony DeLuca [associate vice president of Facilities and Construction] was in favor of what we wanted to do. They simply asked, ‘Do you have a plan?’ How will you execute it? We want to see your ideas.’”

She envisioned five wooden panels, each representing various parts of nature. She and Maldonado carefully assembled a team of five artists—Genny Evans of Drexel Hill, who would create a “Sea” panel; Jayson Hice of Aldan and Syreeta Dukes of Chester, who would represent “Earth” with their respective “Soil,” and “Plants and Trees” panels; Maldonado, who would tackle “Space;” and Kirkpatrick herself, who would take on “Air.” 

 “For me, the mural was an ode to DCCC and the time I had spent in the College’s art studios,” said Maldonado. “When I started Introduction to Painting with Anthony Folks, I began to see painting as more than an art medium—speaking in ways words couldn’t. Colors suddenly had more meaning than being pretty or ugly; it was all about how colors communicated, stood together, and were made.”

Evans was equally excited to leave her mark on DCCC. After previously earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in other fields, she had arrived at the Marple Campus in 2024 to study fine art. “I’d wanted to be an artist my whole life—but was always told never to go to art school,” she says. “I finally said, ‘I’m going to do it anyway.’ It felt so great to be creating art and to be receiving feedback on my work.”

Once Evans connected with Kirkpatrick— “I’d always wanted to be part of a mural”—she committed three to six hours a week to the project, pouring her creativity into her Sea panel. “I added two popular characters reminiscent of those in movies and TV shows. I even got a few sharks in there because I’m a big shark advocate. We all have things hidden in the mural that are part of ourselves.”   

For Dukes, “Art has been my dream since I was a little kid. This is something I always knew I wanted to do. I don’t care how hard it is. I want to become an illustrator. I worked on the mural for the group, but also a little bit for myself. I figured it would be a nice break from my regular studies and all I was juggling at school and at home—something fun.”

Jayson Hice graduated from DCCC in 2026 and is now pursuing his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at Temple University’s Tyler School of Art. “I enjoyed being a part of the mural process. Being a part of something larger brings a sense of unity and community, something that is very strong at DCCC,” he says.

He adds, “DCCC enabled me to pursue my goals. With the vast amount of assistance, knowledge, and community on the campus, I was able to explore techniques and subjects that heightened my understanding of art. Continuing my passion for art at Tyler has made me believe in myself, that I can create what makes me happy, while helping others.” 

Finishing the mural prior to graduation last May turned out to be a race against time. It also was one of the most difficult periods of Kirkpatrick’s life; her father passed away from cancer that semester.

“My community at DCCC really rallied for me,” she says quietly. “I was going through one of the worst phases of my life, but being able to smile and show up for everybody made me stronger. DCCC was such a safe space for me. School was home. I loved it.” 

Maldonado says she spent countless hours and nights working on the mural, alongside final projects she had to finish before the College’s Associate of Fine Arts Graduation Exhibition. “I lost 40 pounds working so hard. I barely noticed! It was not only a test of my physical health, but my mental strength,” she says.

Today, Kirkpatrick is pursuing her bachelor’s degree in art education tuition-free at Kutztown University. She is one of 26 community college students statewide awarded two years of free tuition to Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education universities as part of the 2026 All-Pennsylvania Academic Team. She hopes to become an art teacher while continuing to create her own art, which involves using recycled objects.

“To see the mural finally installed is a dream come true,” Kirkpatrick says. “It is a testament to our little team of artists, who were determined to see it come to fruition; to DCCC staff, who supported us; and to our Studio Art professors, who believed in us, helped us identify our talents and gain the confidence to truly create.”

Maldonado earned her associate degree in Studio Art in 2026. She hopes to transfer to Moore College of Art, which she was accepted into for the Visionary Honors Program, but needs to work for a year to shore up more tuition funds. Dukes, another 2026 Studio Art graduate, hopes to transfer to Moore College of Art like Maldonado. Evans, who graduated with the same major, is working at Painting with a Twist, submitting her work to art galleries, and working as an actress. 

Says Maldonado: “I don’t know what the mural meant for others, but I spent a lot of time reflecting on my time at DCCC and the values that its administrators and students all follow—their flame.”

The mural can be viewed on DCCC’s Marple Campus in the Academic Building, near the Learning Commons, in the hallway between Founders Hall and the Academic Building.

Photo caption: Lydia Kirkpatrick of Springfield with the mural.