Benicia High School’s new “Home of the Panthers” mural was donated by the class of 2008 and completed during this year’s Homecoming Week. (Photo by Nick Sestanovich)

A parting gift from Benicia High School’s 2008 graduating class has finally seen the light of day, and it can be seen by anyone who drives into the front parking lot or even passes it by when driving down Military West.

Every year, the outgoing senior class announces its Senior Class Gift. The funds are raised through the Associated Student Body through fundraisers and events, and the gift is disclosed at that year’s graduation ceremony. The class of 2008’s senior gift was to have a mural that read “Home of the Panthers” with the latter word being painted in a blue and gold, graffiti-esque font.

However, senior gifts can take a while to be fully implemented and this one was no exception. The idea to complete it stemmed from a conversation between Principal Brianna Kleinschmidt and Leadership Adviser/Activities Director Mary Wheat.

“Last year, Mary and I were talking about senior class gifts and she shared with me that this gift had not yet been completed,” Kleinschmidt said.

Kleinschmidt noted that the mural had originally been planned for a different spot on campus, but with changes to the campus in the last eight years— particularly exterior repainting of all the buildings— that location no longer worked out.

“Mary and I, along with input from our athletic director (Craig Holden) and other staff, looked for an alternate location and felt that the entrance to the school lacked any real signage or school spirit,” she said.

Kleinschmidt and Wheat contacted Boss Graphics Inc., the Southern California-based mural painting company which has provided projects for more than 1,000 schools throughout the state, including the graphics inside Benicia High’s gym when the facility was last renovated in 2002. The Class of 2008 had chosen Boss Graphics as the company to design the mural, so Kleinschmidt and Wheat decided to reach out.

“We booked their first availability, which happened to coincide with our Homecoming Week,” Kleinschmidt said.

The mural is now emblazoned on the front entrance to the school outside the Performing Arts Building, making it visible to anyone who drives in from the intersection at Military West and Denfield Avenue.

“I think it is great that a Senior Class Gift is so visible on campus and can make such a positive and visual statement on our campus,” Kleinschmidt said.

Kleinschmidt hopes the mural instills a sense a pride for current, past and future Benicia High students.

“Every class at BHS leaves their legacy and those students go on to do great things in our community and across the world,” she said. “Being an alumni myself, I take great pride in Benicia High School and my hope is that all current and future alumni can look at our school and our new mural with a sense of pride. For those four years of high school, BHS is our home and I want all of our students to feel connected to their school and to feel at home.”

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