From the Nominator

"There was a palpable foreboding feeling in the fall semester of 2020 when the University of Alabama at Birmingham announced there would be no spring break in 2021. The School of Health Professions’ faculty, staff, and students were already exhausted from pandemic regulations. School leadership recognized we needed to do something to bring back joy, unity, and pride.  

Ultimately, Creative Manager Kelan Mercer designed a 28-foot long interactive paint-by-number mural to commemorate our school’s principles and truths. The design combined the words of our shared values with scenes and phrases that highlighted the different departments and impact of our school.  

Between March 15-19, 2021, more than 150 faculty, staff, students, alumni, retirees, and friends--the majority of whom were not artists--volunteered to paint by hand for at least one hour each. And in the spirit of camaraderie, along with the therapy of art, some stayed longer than planned and others returned to paint throughout the week.  

In the end, the SHP Mural Project exceeded all of our expectations in impact and in beauty. When we walk through our front doors to go to work or to attend class, the mural is our reminder that the UAB School of Health Professions’ family is dedicated to a common goal, a united purpose and, most of all, to each other. The SHP mural memorializes who we are, what we stand for, and what we can accomplish together. Learn more at https://go.uab.edu/shpmural."

From the Judges

The University of Alabama-Birmingham's mural project was creative and replicable for many institutions. Some of the judges have plans to implement this idea at their own institutions! They were able to create a beautiful piece of art representing community efforts while also engaging their constituents in a wellness activity. This is a great example of a lower-cost event that promoted the connectedness of constituent engagement.