Making Her Mark: Placer Grad Brings School and Auburn’s History to Life in New Mural

A Conversation with Artist Ashlyn Rand

This fall, Placer High School unveiled a stunning new 80-foot mural in the History Wing – now the largest single art installation in the City of Auburn. Created by Ashlyn Rand, a 2024 Placer High graduate and talented young artist, the mural captures the intertwined stories of Auburn and Placer High School through vivid imagery and thoughtful detail.

Made possible by a gift from the Make Your Mark Foundation to the Hillmen Foundation to fund STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) initiatives at Placer High, the project was two years in the making and represents a powerful collaboration between Ashlyn, history teacher Brett Belanger, and the Placer High community. The funding helped cover the cost to create the mural and provided the artist with a scholarship to continue her studies.

In the conversation below, Ashlyn shares what inspired her, how she approached bringing local history to life, and what she hopes this mural will mean to students and the Auburn community for generations to come.

What inspired you to take on such a large and meaningful project? Can you share how the idea first came about and what drew you to tell the story of Auburn and Placer High through art?

Mr. Belanger first came to me with the idea after working with me on logo designs for the Placer High Snowboard Team. He had seen what I could do artistically, and he thought I would be a good fit for a project like this. I also felt personally connected to the idea because my older brother, Anthony Kerrigan — who now teaches here — left his own athletic legacy at Placer. I saw this as my chance to leave a legacy of my own through art. Placer High has such a rich history, and I really wanted to bring that to life visually. The idea of turning memories and traditions into something permanent and visible for future students inspired me from the start. As Mr. Belanger and I talked more, we knew we also wanted to honor the town of Auburn, because the school and community have always shared one story and one history.

The mural is now the largest single art installation in Auburn — that’s quite an accomplishment! How does it feel to know your work has become such a lasting part of the community?

It’s a surreal feeling. Standing back and seeing the finished mural for the first time was insane. It’s one thing to work on something for months, but to realize it’s now a permanent part of Auburn’s visual landscape — that’s beyond anything I imagined. It’s a reminder of how powerful public art can be.

The mural blends Placer High and Auburn history, and even weaves in the words of the Placer High Hymn. What was your creative process like in deciding which scenes, symbols, or stories to include?

The creative process involved a lot of meetings, sketching, and going back and forth with ideas. I wanted to make sure every part of the mural had meaning and represented an important piece of our history. We started by discussing the very beginning — honoring Indigenous history. Mr. Belanger and I met with the United Auburn Indian Community, and with the guidance they provided we made sure our community’s Native American heritage was represented at the start. It felt right to acknowledge that they were here first, and that all of our history begins with them.

From there, we moved into Auburn’s Gold Rush era, which felt essential since it marks the true beginning of the town itself. Including historical landmarks like the firehouse and the old Placer High building was also really important — those buildings hold so much of our town’s story.

One of my favorite sections to work on was the portraits of historical figures from Placer High. When I was a student, I didn’t know who the field was named after or the story behind the gym’s name. Learning about the people behind those names made the school feel even more meaningful to me. I’m glad I had the chance to highlight their legacies so future students will know the history that surrounds them every day. It really shows how impactful just one person can be.

Of course, Auburn icons like the courthouse and the State Theatre had to be included — they’re staples of our town and instantly recognizable.

The gold miner statue was another must-have, not only because Auburn was founded during the Gold Rush, but also because I loved incorporating another work of local art within my own. Then there’s the Western States finish line, which is huge for our community. People travel from all over the world to run that race, and it ends right in our Placer High stadium — I wanted to showcase that incredible connection.

The Placer High campus itself became a major focus toward the end of the mural — the football field, the gym, and the spirit of the school. The football field is a place where so much history happens: track records, football and soccer victories, graduations, and those unforgettable Friday nights. The historic gym is filled with banners and achievements and, of course, the Kendall Arnett Tournament — so many memories are made there.

For the athletes I chose to highlight, I felt strongly about including incredible female athletes. Representation matters and I wanted future students — especially young women — to see the amazing achievements of an Olympic gold medalist and a four-time California state champion right there on the wall.

Finally, the last panel brings everything back to what truly makes Placer special: the students. I chose a football player — who also happens to be my brother, Anthony — and the Goldmine because student spirit is the heart of Placer High. Seeing our school come together at rallies, games and events really solidifies what it means to be a Hillman. I wanted the mural to end with that energy and pride.

You worked on this project for nearly two years. What part of the process did you find most rewarding — and what was the most challenging?

Once I had all the materials, the painting itself took about a year. It was definitely a big commitment — I had never taken on a project anywhere near this size before — but that made finishing it all the more meaningful. Balancing college, art classes, and life at home wasn’t always easy. There were times when I felt overwhelmed, especially since I painted the mural right in my hallway and bedroom. But pushing through those moments taught me a lot about myself and what I’m capable of.

The most rewarding part was definitely stepping back at the end and seeing the entire mural completed — knowing how much time, energy, and heart went into every panel. It felt amazing to come out on the other side and be able to say, “I did that.” This project challenged me in the best ways, and I’m really proud of what it became.

This project was supported through the Hillmen Foundation and the Make Your Mark Foundation’s donation to fund STEAM projects at Placer High. How did that support shape your experience as a young artist?

The support from the Hillmen Foundation and the Make Your Mark Foundation made this project possible. Having that kind of belief and investment in young artists gave me the confidence to take creative risks and dream bigger than I ever thought I could. It showed me that art and education can come together to make a real impact

Looking ahead, what do you hope people will think or feel when they see the mural today, 10 or 20 years from now? What message or emotion do you hope endures long after your paintbrush has left the wall?

I hope that when people see the mural — whether it’s today or 20 years from now — they’re reminded that young people can make a lasting mark, and that art has the power to tell our shared stories in ways that words sometimes can’t. More than anything, I want people to feel joy and connection when they walk through that hallway. Art has a quiet way of bringing people together, and my dream is that this mural keeps doing exactly that.

Even at the unveiling, I saw students and teachers pointing to people they recognized and sharing memories of their own time at Placer. That meant so much to me. If this mural continues to spark pride, nostalgia, and community for generations of Hillmen, then I’ll feel like I accomplished what I set out to do.

Ashlyn’s mural is more than a work of art. It’s a living story of Auburn and Placer High School, created with heart, history, and Hillmen pride. Her dedication and artistry have transformed a hallway into a place of inspiration and reflection, reminding everyone who passes through the building that creativity and community go hand in hand. The Hillmen Foundation is grateful to Ashlyn, Brett Belanger, the Make Your Mark Foundation, and Placer High School for bringing this vision to life.

The mural now stands as a lasting tribute to the past, present, and future of Placer High School – and the talent of a young artist who continues to make her mark on the world.

Pictured below: Ashlyn Rand, artist, (front left), Brett Belanger. faculty member (back left), David Odom, Hillmen Foundation chair (back right), and Shana Fain McDonald, past Hillmen Foundation chair and board member (front right).