By Noah Hunt Cantu, Cypress Falls High School (A High School Journalism Network Collaboration)

Walking into the Hearthstone Country Club, guests are greeted by a burst of color and creativity, a mural brought to life by Cypress Falls High School students. The project, a collaboration between the school’s art program and the club, highlights both the energy and the community spirit that define the space.

Heather Mix, the Cypress Falls art instructor overseeing the project, said the inspiration for the mural came from the club itself. 

“They requested that the wall prominently feature the name ‘The Tourn’ while representing the club’s key amenities and atmosphere,” Mix said. “We incorporated visual elements that highlight golf, tennis, racquetball, pickleball, fitness and cocktails with music to reflect both the athletic and social experiences the club offers.”

The location of the mural also played a significant role in shaping its design. 

“It’s a place where members stop for water between rounds of golf or tennis and where the space transitions into semi-outdoor seating with a bar and occasional live music,” Mix said. “Because of this, the design reflects both the active and social aspects of the club, creating a visual representation of the energy, recreation and hospitality that define the space.”

The seven Cypress Falls students involved— juniorHillary Martinez and seniors Zariah Cox, Zoobia Farooqi, Denzel Garcia, Dionne Monreal, Nyjai Nevels, and Lavanya Shringarpure —worked collaboratively from initial sketches to the finished wall with everyone playing an important part.

“Each began by developing original sketch concepts, and the final design and color scheme were selected from their submissions,” Mix said. “Responsibilities were divided based on individual strengths.”

For Monreal, who contributed the mural’s color scheme, the project offered a challenge, but she can now look at the mural with a feeling of accomplishment.

“The hardest part was working with so many people on one thing because we kind of had to dance around each other,” Monreal said. “I was relieved when I saw it completed because I truly didn’t think we were going to finish on time. It came out well. The colors were really nice, and the composition was good.”’

Cypress Falls High School students work on a mural at the Hearthstone Country Club.

The mural took about five months to complete from planning to execution. Throughout the entire process, Mix saw her students grow and flourish.

“Artistically, they strengthened their skills in problem-solving, especially with color matching and adapting designs to a large surface,” Mix said. “As collaborators, they learned to recognize and rely on each other’s strengths, working as a cohesive team to successfully complete the project. Seeing their pride in the final moment made the entire process incredibly rewarding.”

Now, the students have a real-world reminder of the impact they can have.

“It’s incredibly important for student artwork to exist in public spaces because it gives emerging artists a real voice,” Mix said. “Public display validates their hard work, inspires confidence, and shows the community the value of young voices in shaping visual culture.”

Editor's Note: This article was written by Noah Hunt Cantu, a student at Cypress Falls High School in Cypress-Fairbanks ISD, through a partnership between My Neighborhood News and the District as part of an established high school journalism network collaboration. My Neighborhood News is a proud supporter of local youth and warmly welcomes the opportunity to provide a platform for students to share their work.