This past summer, NC’s Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) found a creative way to raise money for the new school year and simultaneously spark joy for the rising seniors. Announced on the class of 2025’s Instagram page July 17, the PTSA allowed 12th graders to purchase their own parking spot and customize the asphalt rectangle into a fun, artistic representation of their personality.
The recent fundraiser gained inspiration from other high schools in the area that offered their seniors parking spots to purchase and paint as well. NC’s PTSA believed the event would ease struggles to find parking. Though the painting festivities provided an exhilarating start to senior year, NC still enforced structure through cautionary rules and stipulations.
“At our first PTSA meeting with [Principal Matthew] Moody, our newly formed board was trying to come up with new ideas for the school year. Lynette Sylvester, our Secretary, came up with the idea about senior parking. Lynette said she thought this would be great for seniors to have their own parking spaces to decorate and park in. She had heard of other schools doing this and that the kids loved it. Moody loved the idea,” PTSA Fundraising Coordinator and Treasurer Lange Duby said.
Foremost, the seniors purchased a spot through TicketLeap, which displayed a ticket that outlined the parking spot number and name of the buyer. The purchase required the student to read and agree to terms and conditions—such as buying an NC parking pass when available—to ensure their compliance with school rules, as well as submitting a draft design. School administrators checked the draft for appropriateness and the absence of any obscene images or language.
Rules regarding the design only comprised part of the purchase; NC also posed requirements on the type of paint the student used. Painters imperatively used water based latex exterior paint of all colors to formulate their designs. This prevented the designs from peeling and ensured no damage to the school’s parking lots.
Once the class of 2025 purchased their parking spots and adhered to NC’s wise rules, the PTSA offered a painting day July 27. At 8 a.m. the PTSA allowed students to begin their expressive expeditions. Numerous students arrived with friends, family and buckets of paint—each one determined to artistically transform the space between the two white spray painted lines into a stylish and memorable mirage.
As students continued showing up, the enthusiasm seemed palpable. Music playing, friends talking, paint pouring: the busy Saturday likened to a scene straight from a coming-of-age Netflix film. Taking influence from songs and movies—such as “10 Things I Hate About You” or “Tangled”—books, Pinterest posts and other forms of media, NC seniors shaped both parking lots into wondrous murals. Luckily, the fun continues: the PTSA wants senior students to know surplus parking spots still remain available for purchase and the board hopes to continue the fundraiser next school year.
“The experience of painting my parking spot was so much fun! I was able to hang out with friends while painting and we made so many great memories. I think by painting the parking spot, it made the fact that we’re seniors feel suddenly very real. While before going into senior year it seemed scary and intimidating, I think painting the senior spot made everyone excited for the upcoming year,” magnet senior Claire Shelton said.
NC’s senior parking spot fundraiser proved a profitable accomplishment for the school staff. The PTSA plans to use the funds raised to contribute to scholarships for seniors or for Advanced Placement (AP) exams in May.
As the class of 2025 has completed one of various senior activities, The Chant congratulates each student on their accomplishments and wishes each 12th grade Warrior an exciting final year!
