“I had to do something,” said Jeri Lewis, whose son, Conner, is a senior.
That one idea has turned into a major project that has benefited a downtown Middletown business and drawn rival high schools together, Lewis said.
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Once Lewis posted a picture of her son’s graduation sign, she was contacted by Madison administrators about making similar signs for all 115 seniors.
“Absolutely,” Lewis told school officials.
Then Middletown, Edgewood and Franklin school officials asked about making signs for their seniors.
“Let’s do this,” Lewis said.
In less than one week, Lewis has designed more than 700 senior signs for 15 high schools in Butler and Warren counties and beyond, including Madison, Middletown, Monroe, Edgewood, Carlisle, Franklin, Springboro, Lebanon, Preble Shawnee, Centerville, Kings, Northwest, Arcanum, New Miami and National Trail.
“Never heard of National Trail until now,” she said with a laugh.
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She also has designed several signs for local college graduates.
The signs cost $10 each and are printed at Digital Visuals Inc. in Middletown. Jim Edwards, vice president of the business that opened in 2003, said he priced the signs below retail to lessen the financial burden on parents struggling due to the coronavirus.
He called printing hundreds of signs “a nice little project” and he’s grateful for the business, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The signs provide “a little bit of recognition” for the deserving seniors, he said.
Lewis said parents have provided senior photos of their children and first names for the signs. Once the signs are paid for, Lewis provides a proof and when it’s approved, the sign is printed. She works with a representative from each school.
The idea also has brought “something positive” to Middletown, she said.
It also has created a bond among athletic rivals, Lewis said. Once each parent paid the $10 for their student’s poster, some of them made additional donations as a way to “adopt” seniors who couldn’t afford a poster, Lewis said.
Then seniors started purchasing gifts designed to be given to seniors at different high schools.
“It’s so cool,” Lewis said. “This is way bigger than I ever imagined. It’s more of a movement.”
TELLING YOUR STORIES
We’re looking to profile people throughout our coverage area about how the coronavirus is impacting your daily life. If you’re interested in sharing your story about how you’re affected or adapting to the situation, call Journal-News reporter Rick McCrabb at 513-483-5216 or email rick.mccrabb@coxinc.com.
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