Mural At Teen Center To Motivate Teens To Reach Their Potential

Last updated on Tuesday, November 27, 2018

(BEDFORD) - Walt Disney said, “If you can dream it, you can do it!” - that is the motivation behind a mural painted on the wall at the Teen Center.

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Names are left to right Back- Gary Conner, NLCS Superintendent & representing BNL High School, Adam Long, the artist, Damon Bailey,, Joey Elliott, Stand-in/representing Claude Akins, Frank Decker, Chief Professional Officer Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence County, Dr. Steve Phillips, Mitchell Schools Superintendent, Tom Elliott, Stand-in/representing Claude Akins. Front- Chris Hubbard, Teen Director, Becky Skillman, Former Lieutenant Governor of Indiana, Janie Anderson, Mother of Clayton Anderson, Steve Grissom, Mitchell Junior High Assistant Principal, Zarod Myers, Chamber of Commerce, representing the Bicentennial for Lawrence County.

"Becky Skillman wasn't born to become Lt. Governor, Damon Bailey wasn't born to become Indiana's all-time high school leading scorer, Ken Bowersox didn't know he would log more than 211 days in space," says Chris Hubbard, Teen Center Director. "They had to work to achieve those goals."

Hubbard and artist Adam Long, of Uniontown, began working on the idea of the mural 8 months ago. It took 40 hours to complete.

Becky Skillman stands with Adam Long

The mural includes images of Becky Skillman, Damon Bailey, Clayton Anderson, Claude Akins, Gus Grissom, Charlie Walker, and Ken Bowersox.

The list of those who have made an impact was huge.

Artist Adam Long with Damon Bailey

"We narrowed the list down to a few that would evoke an emotional impact. We wanted to make teens know with hard work they can become a Damon Bailey or a Clayton Anderson," Hubbard says. "We wanted to show them they too can make an impact outside of this community."

The mural also serves as a bridge between the City of Mitchell and the City of Bedford.

"We have teens from both Mitchell and Bedford who come to the Teen Center," Hubbard says. "This is to show them there is no rivalry between the two communities," Hubbard added.

The mural also includes some hidden facts allowing Hubbard to develop a Teen Center Scavenger Hunt.

Here are just a few of the facts the Teens will discover:

What is Damon Bailey's all-time scoring record?
What day was the Apollo 1 destroyed on a pre-launch test?
What is the name of Becky Skillman's development organization?
What was Charlie Walker's first assigned NASA mission?
What was the name of Claude Akins character in Planet of the Apes?
What year did Clayton Anderson win a music contest that caused him to follow his dream?

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