The next time you travel along M-40 through Hamilton, keep an eye out as you cross the Rabbit River Bridge. Some familiar Hawkeye creativity is now on display!

Artwork created by seven Hamilton Community Schools students has been transformed into banners lining the bridge, giving the more than 10,000 vehicles that travel the stretch of M-40 each day a colorful welcome to the Hamilton community.

Last spring, the Hamilton Lions Club invited local artists to submit designs centered around the theme “Welcome to Hamilton.” Entries came from throughout the community, including elementary, middle and high school students, homeschool students and adults.

Hamilton Middle School art teacher Heather Keesler saw the contest as a perfect opportunity for her second-semester seventh and eighth grade students to think creatively about the place they call home.

“The theme was ‘Welcome to Hamilton,’ so I really asked the students to think about what makes our community different and unique from other towns and cities around us,” Keesler said. “I wanted them to really highlight and pull in why we love being a part of Hamilton.”

Students took that challenge in several different directions, incorporating everything from Hawkeye pride and Hamilton’s agricultural roots to wildlife and recognizable scenes from around the community.

“When I think of Hamilton, I think about farmlands and hunting because that’s such a big thing in our community here,” one student explained. “I kind of wanted to combine those two, so I did a silhouette of a deer filled in with some farmlands, with some corn and a barn.”

Another student focused on Hamilton’s black and gold school colors and the Hawkeye, while another created an overview of the community featuring a large “H” and Hawkeye.

For the students, seeing something they created in the classroom become a permanent part of the community has been a special experience.

“A few days ago, my mom read me an email that my art was on the bridge, and it was pretty exciting,” one student said.

“I’m very proud,” another added. “I’m pretty proud that my art gets to be displayed on the bridge.”

Perhaps the most exciting part is knowing just how many people will see their work.

“It’s very cool,” one student said. “Every time someone comes into Hamilton, they see my artwork.”

Six Hamilton Middle School artists — Kylie L., Michael P., Zander B., Ramona C., Bre M. and Layla N. — were selected to have their designs displayed, along with Hamilton Elementary student artist Gabe T.

For Keesler, driving across the bridge and seeing her students’ work displayed publicly brought the project full circle.

“I got to drive down over the bridge this morning and check out the art, and it was just such a moment of pride for me to see my students’ art out in the community and being a part of Hamilton,” Keesler said. “I think it’s awesome. I wasn’t really expecting that, but I think it’s really cool that they partnered with our school to do this.”

The banners do more than showcase student artwork. They give Hamilton’s young artists an opportunity to contribute to the identity of their hometown and share what Hamilton means to them with thousands of residents and visitors every day.

As second grader Gabe put it, “Hamilton is a great place because there’s a lot of fun stuff. It’s a great place.”

Hamilton Community Schools extends a huge thank you to the Hamilton Lions Club for creating an opportunity for our students to share their talents beyond the classroom and help welcome people to the community we call home.

Be sure to look for their artwork the next time you cross the Rabbit River Bridge on M-40!