An eighth-grade student at Northampton Area Middle School has created a three-dimensional, interactive mural that will be used to address diversity and bullying in her school.

Lena Kugelman, 14, created the project to earn her Girl Scout Silver Award, the highest award a Cadette level Girl Scout can earn. With the help of a team of students at the middle school, Lena designed the mural using 4-by-6-foot sheets of corrugated cardboard and repurposed paper towel and toilet paper tubes. She led art club members in painting the tubes and creating decorations for the mural. The tubes then were assembled on the mural in the shape of a tree.

According to Lena, the reason for a tree is because it is a symbol of unity, much like a family tree. From the leaves to the trunk, everything is equally important to keep the tree alive, she said. Even though many parts of the tree are different, they all work together to make one strong, living body, just like all of the students in school.

“We all need to work together to create a friendly, supportive student body that makes our community a better place,” Lena said.

The mural will be displayed in the middle school library. Students will be asked to respond to prompts on the mural. The prompts, such as “What does diversity mean to you?” and “How can you stand up against bullying?,” will give students the opportunity to express their feelings about diversity and bullying. The prompts will change over the course of several weeks.

Students’ responses can be in the form of an essay, story, poem, song or drawing. Responses will be placed in the paper tubes and collected by Lena. Some of the responses then will be displayed in a school showcase for everyone to view.

Because the mural is movable, it can be used again in other locations. Sharon Skrapits, gifted support teacher at Northampton Area Middle School, plans to use the mural again next year.

“Lena has done a great job with her project. She is encouraging a dialogue about an issue that students face every day,” Skrapits said.

Lena’s project enhances other initiatives already taking place in all Northampton schools, such as the No Place for Hate program and the KAB (Kids Against Bullying) Club.

Lena is a member of Girl Scout Troop 871, which meets at Queenship of Mary Church in Northampton.