A Hawk's Eye View: February 20, 2026

Around this time each year, the walls of the Schwartz Center start to fill with one of my favorite visual arts installations: 8th-grade torn paper projects. Ushered thoughtfully by Mrs. Woods over the course of several weeks, students select an inspiring individual - a family member, musician, scientist, etc. - to generate a portrait using hand-torn pieces of paper from magazines, newspapers, and the like. One of the many milestone projects students complete during their academic journey, this specific one requires patience and accuracy to bring an individual into focus. 

The hanging of these portraits marks the beginning of the final trimester and celebrates how far our 8th grade students have come. It’s a meaningful reminder that their Harding journey, filled with growth, friendships, and countless memories, is beginning its final chapter. Spring is filled with moments to celebrate their successes and reflect on their time with us - from brick reveals in the middle school courtyard to final excursions to Six Flags and Washington, D.C., culminating in the transition from students to alumni. 

From where I stand, it is a remarkable privilege to watch students grow year after year. I often find myself thinking back to when this class was in 3rd grade, my very first year at Harding, when their worlds were filled with Harry Potter, carefully measured area and perimeter houses, and the uncertainty of learning through COVID.

What makes this moment so powerful is not just how much they have grown academically, but who they have become. They are confident, compassionate young leaders whose presence strengthens the very fabric of our community. Anyone who attended Tuesday’s Chili Cookoff saw it clearly. These students were at their very best, welcoming, encouraging, and dishing out joy to the younger Hawks who are already beginning to follow in their footsteps.

For those of you joining us for Beauty and the Beast next week, I encourage you to pause and take in these torn paper works of art hanging in the Schwartz Center. They are a powerful reminder that creative learning is never instantaneous. It unfolds over time in classrooms where teachers champion vulnerability over perfection and experimentation over simply staying inside the lines. These same values live not only in our visual arts, but on our stage as well.

What you see on those walls, and what you will see under the lights next week, is the result of years of courage, trust, and growth. It is the unmistakable mark of students who have been given the freedom to become fully themselves.

Best, 

Dr. Eric Fecht