Eight AWTT portraits spent a month at a junior high school in Waterville, Maine for the month of April 2025. The portraits chosen by the Waterville teachers and students included Congressman and civil rights leader, John Lewis; U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower; civil rights activist Claudette Colvin; and Esther Anne (formerly Attean), Passamaquoddy teacher and leader.

Students in various classrooms had the opportunity to study the portraits and the portrait subjects’ stories in depth.

Teacher Autumn Pepin shared these insights:

“Our students had been exploring portraits for inspiration, heroes, and historical context through websites and books for a while. But nothing compares to being in the presence of one. Standing before a portrait creates a powerful connection—the painting feels like it’s right there with you in the room. That kind of presence brings both the person and their work to life in a way that no digital image or book ever could.

“The students’ engagement during this experience was noticeably elevated. Their curiosity grew, their questions became more thoughtful, and their reflections more personal. Being face-to-face with the artwork transformed their learning from passive observation to active connection.”