Edison Tech students build mosaic mural honoring Supreme Court Justice

Rochester, New York – Inside Edison Career and Technology High School, the sound of tile pieces clicking into place mixed with conversation, laughter, and careful concentration as students worked side by side on a project much larger than a classroom assignment. For a group of young women at Edison Tech, this year’s mosaic mural is not simply about art or construction. It is about legacy, representation, and leaving a permanent mark on their school community.

For the third straight year, female students at Edison are building a large-scale mosaic honoring an influential woman whose impact reaches far beyond the walls of the school. This year’s tribute recognizes Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the first Hispanic Justice in United States history and a figure widely respected for her perseverance, leadership, and dedication to public service.

The mural is part of the school’s ongoing “Ladies, Ladders & Legacies” initiative, a program that combines hands-on technical education with leadership development for female students interested in fields that have historically been dominated by men. The project’s motto — “Building Skills. Honoring Women. Leaving a Legacy.” — is printed across shirts, posters, and workspaces throughout the initiative, but students say the message carries much deeper meaning than a slogan.

Unlike a typical art project, the mural effort is built through collaboration between multiple departments at Edison. The school’s Career and Technical Education Construction & Design Pathway works together with the Edison Art Department, allowing students to combine creativity with practical building experience. Participants are involved in every stage of the process, from early sketches and tile layouts to masonry work and final installation.

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The mural also represents the third chapter in a long-term partnership involving UNICON and Rochester’s local bricklayers’ union. The collaboration is expected to continue over a decade, with a different influential woman selected each year as the centerpiece for a permanent installation inside the school.

On May 27, students gathered for what organizers called “build day,” an intensive hands-on session where the mosaic finally began taking shape. Teachers, mentors, and professional female masons from local unions joined students throughout the process, helping guide the technical aspects of the installation while also offering encouragement and career insight.

For Edison senior Jaymaiyah Ward, the project became deeply personal.

“This will be something that I can come back to Edison and look back on and be very proud of,” said Jaymaiyah Ward, an Edison senior.

Ward played a major creative role in the project. She produced artwork of Justice Sotomayor for the mural itself, designed the student T-shirts worn during build day, created promotional materials, and mapped out the tile layout used during assembly.

The project brought together eight students from grades 10 through 12, each contributing to the final installation in different ways. This year’s team included Jaymaiyah Ward, Amirah Slade, Janay Jacobs, Gilianna Aviles, Darily Perez Rivera, Nathalia Marin Candelario, Luvazia Futtz, and Eliana Velasquez.

School leaders say the initiative continues to grow because it gives students opportunities that extend beyond the classroom. While students gain experience in design, masonry, teamwork, and construction layout, they also build confidence working in environments where women have traditionally been underrepresented.

The completed murals are displayed inside Edison’s Women’s Memorial Hall, where they remain as permanent reminders of achievement and empowerment. Over time, the hallway has evolved into a visual timeline celebrating influential women and the students who honored them.

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Last year’s installation recognized former First Lady Michelle Obama, while the first project in the series paid tribute to “The Black Rosies,” honoring African American women who contributed to the workforce during World War II.

This year’s effort received support from several community and industry partners, including UNICON, the Bricklayers Union of Rochester, Tile Wholesalers, and Tiny Fish Printing. Those organizations provided materials, mentorship, technical guidance, and other resources needed to complete the ambitious installation.

For many of the students involved, the mural represents more than a school project that will eventually hang on a wall. It stands as proof that young women can build, lead, design, and create lasting work with their own hands.

The public will get its first official look at the finished mural during a special unveiling ceremony scheduled for Friday, June 12, at 9 a.m., where students, teachers, families, and community members will gather to celebrate the latest addition to Edison’s growing legacy wall.