Old Rochester Regional High School students in art teacher Kate Butler’s Art II class posed with portraits they created for children in Armenia as part of the Memory Project. (Photo Courtesy Old Rochester Regional School District and MA Superintendency Union #55)
MATTAPOISETT — Superintendent Michael S. Nelson and Assistant Principal Lauren Millette are proud to announce that art students from Old Rochester Regional High School once again connected with students from another country — this time Armenia — as part of an international initiative known as the Memory Project.
Students in Art II and Honors Art III classes at Old Rochester Regional High School created portraits from photographs of children from Armenia in the fall of 2025, with participation in the project coordinated by art teacher Kate Butler. Art teacher Joanne Molgilnicki also participated with students in her Honors Art lll class. The finished works of art were then delivered to their subjects earlier this year through the nonprofit Memory Project.
“This was an excellent way for our student artists to connect with fellow students from a faraway place through the power of art,” said Butler. “It was a chance for our students to challenge themselves in order to create a special image of their counterparts from Armenia, creating lasting memories and a new international connection for everyone involved. We appreciate the Memory Project for making this possible.”
Since 2004, the Memory Project has engaged 320,000 youth in 57 countries through school-based programs, providing student artists with photographs of children living in orphanages — and in other difficult circumstances — all throughout the world. Operating under a banner of “creating a kinder world through art,” the Memory Project has connected student portrait artists to youth in countries such as Uganda, Sierra Leone, Romania, Guatemala, India, Honduras, Thailand, Nicaragua, Afghanistan, Peru, and Ukraine. In 2022, art students from Old Rochester Regional High School got the chance through the Memory Project to make and send portraits to children in Syria.
“The Memory Project, from its first intention, was to provide handmade, heartfelt portraits as special memories to children in orphanages,” said Ben Schumaker, who started the Memory Project as a university student in 2004. “Now our intention has expanded to touching the lives of youth around the world facing many types of challenges, while opening our hearts and minds so they can touch ours in return. Together we are using art to reach a distant destination: a kinder world in which all youth see themselves in one another regardless of differences in their appearance, culture, religion, or circumstances.”
Old Rochester students used a variety of drawing and painting techniques to create highly detailed, realistic portraits. Each portrait was then signed by the student artist, and a photograph of the artist was included so that the recipients could see who created their artwork.
Most of the children who received portraits live in rural areas of Armenia. According to the Memory Project, the experience of receiving personalized artwork from students on the other side of the world was a new and exciting experience for many of the children.
After the portraits were delivered, students at Old Rochester Regional High School were sent a video from the Memory Project showing the children in Armenia receiving their artwork. The video captured the joy, excitement and appreciation expressed by the smiling recipients as they received their portraits and spoke into the nonprofit’s camera.
Superintendent Nelson and Assistant Principal Millette praised the students and faculty involved in the project for embracing this opportunity to connect with other students from across the world through creativity, compassion and cultural understanding.
“The Memory Project exemplifies the type of learning experience that leaves a lasting impact on students,” said Assistant Principal Millette. “Our students flexed their artistic skills, while forging an authentic connection with students from another country, demonstrating kindness, curiosity and creativity. We are grateful to Ms. Butler and Ms. Mogilnicki for continuing to provide opportunities that broaden our students’ perspectives and encourage them to become thoughtful global citizens.”
“This project demonstrates the incredible power of art to create connections despite differences in language, geography and culture,” said Superintendent Nelson. “By making these portraits, our students shared a meaningful gift while learning important lessons. We are proud of our students for using their talents to help make the world a little kinder.”
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Old Rochester Regional High School students in art teacher Kate Butler’s Art II class posed with portraits they created for children in Armenia as part of the Memory Project. Art teacher Kate Butler, bottom-right, displayed a portrait of her own. (Photo Courtesy Old Rochester Regional School District and MA Superintendency Union #55)
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