Amp Lab Murals
Amp Lab Murals at the Memorial Coliseum
Amp Lab students in the Surack Family Foundation Create Studio were tasked to develop four murals that could enhance the aesthetics outside the arena. The challenge project began with a "how might we" statement - How might we, Amp Lab students, create a mural that reflects the diversity of the events for the customers so that the community feels welcomed in our space.
Forty high schoolers researched past and present events that were associated with the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum and came up with four categories - history, sports, music and veterans. These categories were the background for each of the four finalized murals.
Through milestone feedback sessions with officials from ACWMC, the students were able to develop four murals that truly represent the rich history of the Coliseum.
The murals can be found at each corner of the 200 Level Concourse.
Mural Names
"Echoes in Foundation" (History)
"Notes in Air" (Music)
"History's Score" (Sports)
"Poppies Praise" (Veterans)
The Poem & Inspiration for the Murals
Time Always Loops, a Circle Always Returns
To Fort Wayne's shining Coliseum scene,
The memories given to us are serene.
No story told could be greater than this,
The rivers of a story flow underneath in bliss.
Where echoes of wars still live in light,
From first and second, doves take flight.
The letters fly home whispering through the night.
To wives with their husbands unseen,
Poppies bloom in their memory's stream.
Guitars once roared with Elvis Presley's sound,
And Elton John lit the stage all around,
While Metallica thundered loud and strong,
And Michael Jackson turned the night to a song.
When the lyrical notes floated in the air,
The Coliseum and memories were a perfect pair.
Ice once thundered with Fort Wayne Komets in play,
Sticks would clash and crowds would sway,
Hoops would rise in fast-paced games,
And indoor football sparked bright flames.
The brightest nights that bursted with passion,
Of the sports that gave us the deepest compassion.
Veterans honored, ever near.
Sacrifices were made, with no fear.
With no sacrifice, there is no victory,
Those who lived has retold the history.
All survival stories have something to tell.
Veterans paved the path that we know well.
And so the story begins once again,
Pages of a book that begins to spin.
The story turns, then reappears,
The words on the paper that could be never disappear,
Circling back through time unseen,
To Fort Wayne's shining Coliseum Scene.
What is Amp Lab?
The Amp Lab at Electric Works offers an exceptional opportunity for 400 students in grades 11 and 12 to enrich their educational experience. Students spend half their day at their comprehensive high school taking core classes, and the other half at Amp Lab, where they can bring their learning to life through hands-on, and authentic real-world experiences provided by local companies, businesses, and organizations. Amp Lab at Electric Works is home to the 3Rivers Federal Credit Union Venture Studio, the Parkview Mirro Center for Research & Innovation Make Studio, the Surack Family Foundation Create Studio and the Grow Studio. Amp Lab serves high school students from Allen County and some of the surrounding counties in Northeast Indiana. Our mission is to assist all students in the development of problem-solving skills and entrepreneurial spirit.
Students that worked on the Mural Project
- Joselyn Aquino De La Cruz
- Renesha Autry
- Angel Aviles
- Daisy Baker
- Donovan Bell-Rutledge
- Alyssa Bumgardner
- Jared Cruz
- Aaliyah Davis
- Devin De Luna
- Conner Goodwin
- Jontae Hinton
- Talaylah Hughes
- Sha'Diamond Ivy
- Eshaunte Jones
- Khaleal Jones
- Isaac Majors
- Amiliana May
- Gabrielle Newbill
- Lola Talamantes
- Uriah Williams
- Makhiah Williams
- Jevon Wilson
- Isaiah Ali
- Anthony Barnes
- Dylan Boxell
- Sa'Marah Coleman
- Mae'Airah Dial
- Jakyra Englehart
- Anthony Gibson
- Romelia Gonzalez
- Mya Hamilton
- Darien Hamlet-Matthews
- Camaja Holiness-Tennant
- Caine Huckeriede
- Michaela King
- Israel Mace
- Tyreece Menifee
- Micah Moore
- Devin Patterson
- Zion Rogan
- Aalayah Staten
- Ryan Stine
- Nasiaira Walker
Project Video
Watch the student-made video below, featuring several students that worked on the 4 murals that are now featured on the 200 Level Concourse at the Memorial Coliseum, as well as Amp Lab Community Coach Jeff Roberts and Amp Lab Create Studio Teacher Theoplis Smith III.
