KCCI and DeSoto Trail Elementary Announce “Greetings from DeSoto Trail Elementary” Mural
KCCI and DeSoto Trail Elementary Announce “Greetings from DeSoto Trail Elementary” Mural
TALLAHASSEE, FL (May 13, 2026) — The Knight Creative Communities Institute (KCCI) and DeSoto Trail Elementary School unveiled a vibrant new public artwork, Greetings from DeSoto Trail Elementary, in time for DeSoto Trail Elementary School’s annual Senior Walk celebration on May 14th. The Senior Walk is a beloved tradition where former DeSoto Trail Elementary students—now graduating high school seniors—return to campus to be honored and cheered on by current students and staff.
“We are thrilled to showcase this beautiful mural created by two incredibly talented students. It captures the spirit of DeSoto Trail Elementary School and will be a source of pride for our Trailblazer community for years to come,” said Michele Keltner, Principal at DeSoto Trail Elementary School. “Having it unveiled in time for the Senior Walk makes it even more special, as we celebrate our former students and we hope the mural inspires them to Keep Trailblazing.”
Positioned at the school’s main entrance and visible from the nearby roadway, the colorful 8 foot by 12 foot artwork serves as a bold, welcoming greeting to students, families, and the broader community. The artwork was conceptualized by DeSoto Trail Elementary School’s leadership team with support from KCCI’s team and then designed by two Leon County Schools seniors: Arden Seaquist, a Chiles High School senior and former Hawks Rise Elementary student who will attend the University of Florida this fall, and Kaitlyn Grauer, also a Chiles High School senior and former Killearn Lakes Elementary student who will attend the University of Central Florida.
“This mural is a perfect example of how public art can strengthen community identity and create a sense of place and community pride,” said Mary McVicar, KCCI 2026 Community Catalyst and a DeSoto Trail parent. “I’m proud to see students lead the way in shaping spaces that uplift and inspire as we continue our 2026 Community Catalyst team’s work of re-imagining student-centered art in our local schools.”
The artwork designers, Kaitlyn and Arden are both Leon County School Seniors who have been interning with KCCI through Chiles High School’s externship program, which provides hands-on learning and real-world career pathway experiences for seniors. Their work on the mural reflects collaboration and creativity, and real-world experience of the approvals a graphic designer would go through in bringing designs to fruition.
“I’m proud to have led the design work of this project and to the communication aspects of the entire 2026 KCCI Community Catalyst team’s projects all around town,” said Kaitlyn Grauer, artwork co-designer.
“This project has given me invaluable real‑world experience,” said Arden Seaquist, artwork co-designer. “Being trusted to create a piece of public art that will welcome students every day and inspire younger kids the way I was inspired has been incredibly rewarding.
KCCI’s 2026 Community Catalyst team’s creative placemaking initiative using bold public art to turn Tallahassee’s everyday spaces into vibrant community landmarks. By activating corridors and campuses, it strengthens neighborhoods, celebrates local creativity, and invests in the places where people live, learn, and gather. In partnership with the Southside CRA and SoMo Walls, The Stacks project is transforming South Monroe Street with eight large-scale murals on stacked shipping containers, creating a striking Southside gateway that boosts pride, tourism, and community investment. WALL+A — Walls for Art, Learning, and Local Activation —is the school-focused aspect bringing lasting art to eight school campuses, turning walls into creative spaces that inspire students and deepen connections between schools and their neighborhoods.
More information about KCCI’s 2026 Community Catalyst project, including the Wall-A initiative, can be found at: https://kccitallahassee.com/project/wall-a/
More information about DeSoto Trail Elementary can be found at: https://desototrail.leonschools.net/
KCCI is made possible thanks to community partners that make the KCCI Community Catalyst teams possible.