Setting themselves apart
Munising High School Seniors, the upcoming 2025 graduates, wanted to paint a whole new attitude to distinguish themselves from past groups of grads. Even well before school began, the group could be seen online promoting positive messages like looking forward to sunrises instead of sunsets. As part of their positivity, each senior was given the opportunity to paint a parking spot.
Intern and Senior Natalie Holmes-Niven, an active participant in Alger County Communities that Care, described how the senior girls had a sleepover at Tessa Salo’s house to create the signs to set a positive tone as early as summer 2024. Holmes-Niven described their senior intent, “I feel like we try to include everyone as much as we can. I feel we are creative and inclusive and strong as a class. We are the ‘Do-It-All-Kids’. We like things lighter!” Natalie does not have a parking lot spot, but she emphasized that although her life isn’t always easy, she still chooses to be as positive as possible.
Parking Spot idea approved
Munising High School Student Council Advisor Amy Heribacka approved the class idea to paint their own parking spots. Originally Kate Mattson’s idea, the students bought the artistic materials themselves. Heribacka said, “It’s acrylic paint. All students had to fill out the Senior Parking Spot Contract– All designs had to be approved by administration. If they didn’t follow rules they would lose their driving privileges on school grounds.”
Student ideas
Kate Mattson got the idea for the parking lot painting from social media. Their senior group also has a sunset photo shoot planned for the spring. Kate’s design shows her favorite color of blue and her smiles just talking about the design shows Mattson’s passion for our school.
Axl Richards, 2025 class president, painted a “memorial” to his black vehicle, a “deceased” black Nissan with a blown transmission. Richards laughs about the situation now; he has future plans to enlist in the United States Air Force. Richards has already led a t-shirt planning meeting, and although leadership is a new adventure for him, he has realized how difficult it can be to please everyone.
Senior Samantha Cain painted her pavement using a quote from ABBA, “Here we go again “ showing her looking forward to her final year. The school’s climate has been changing from last year already. Cain said, “We want to have a good time with everyone. We have a lot of leaders in my class.”
Some of the seniors had floral designs with their names (Tessa Salo and Cadence Schultz), a Disney Tangled theme (Jolie Ake), or beautiful koi fish in a yin and yang pattern (Lauren Nelson). One design features a hiker heading into a bright path (Tri sport participant Dayne Behning). Two used Kanye West album covers for inspiration.
Scout Linsenman featured his passion for music. Linsenman stated, “The ‘S’ is from an album cover called Stone Sour. One of my favorite bands. I also have Stone Temple Pilots, Korn, Pantera, and the Red Hot Chile Peppers.” He participated since it is his senior year and he wanted to do as much as he could before leaving Munising. He credits his girlfriend with part of the design. Linsenman plans to be a captain at Shipwreck Tours during a gap year and will later attend Bay de Noc Community College for core classes before transferring to LSSU to pursue the field of marine architecture.
Another senior, Nathan Petersen, shows a vastly different design. His spot shows all the clubs he is passionate about, ranging from running cross country to drama to robotics to band, to his deep faith in God. Petersen feels he wants to get every bit of knowledge out of Munising that he can before he heads to community college.
Elizabeth Wing, school leader of various clubs and tribal youth representative, featured a design from the TV show Friends that features a photo frame, her nickname, and bright colors. Savannah Lassila, who plans to serve our country in the U.S. Space Force, painted a design with a play list and how “It’s the rainy days that give us love for the sun.”
Where to see it
The 2025 positive parking lot is visible from M-28 and can be viewed during non-school hours when the students’ cars aren’t in their spots.
https://www.munisingschools.com
