Student's Winning Artwork Becomes Permanent Mural Honoring First Responders

August 3, 2026 (Stephenville, TEXAS) – A Dublin Intermediate School student's award-winning artwork has become a permanent public mural honoring first responders, following a dedication ceremony Saturday in Stephenville.

Community members, local leaders, first responders and project partners gathered Saturday, August 1 to celebrate the unveiling of the mural during a dedication ceremony and ribbon cutting. The artwork, created by Dublin Intermediate School student Selene Moreno, was selected as the winning design in the second annual 9-1-1 Heroes Art Competition, a partnership between the North Central Texas Emergency Communications District (NCT9-1-1) and Motorola Solutions.

More than 600 students submitted artwork for this year's competition, with the winning design selected through public voting. Moreno's artwork was then transformed into a permanent mural celebrating police officers, firefighters, emergency medical personnel and 9-1-1 telecommunicators.

"I've liked doing art since I could hold a pencil,” said Moreno. “I entered this competition just to see. I didn't expect to win!" 

Moreno joined community leaders and project partners for the unveiling and ribbon cutting, marking the transition of her original artwork from a student competition entry to a permanent piece of public art.

You can find photos and video of the completed mural here: Stephenville Mural Ceremony - Google Drive

Local artist Christopher Sandoval, known professionally as @chag.draws, painted the mural based on Moreno’s winning design. It is now on permanent display at 240 W. Green Street, next to the Stephenville Police Department.

"The quote 'together as one' is impactful and meaningful for what we are doing here,” said Erath County Judge Brandon Huckabee. “It's a daily reminder... of everyone that's involved in the process when [the caller] is at their worst time. The call comes into dispatch, then they send out police, fire, or EMS. Often times all working together. We really are better when we are all together."

The public mural serves as a lasting tribute to the role first responders play in keeping communities safe while creating opportunities for community engagement and public safety education.

NCT9-1-1's long-term goal is to bring a mural to each of the 14 counties in its service area, creating a regional network of public art that honors first responders and highlights the importance of emergency communications.

"The 9-1-1 Heroes Art Competition allows students to recognize the people who serve their communities while creating something meaningful that can be shared with the public," said Nikki Newton, 9-1-1 Community Engagement Coordinator for NCT9-1-1. "This mural reflects both the creativity of local students and the appreciation communities have for the first responders who answer the call every day."

More information about the 9-1-1 Heroes Art Competition is available at www.nct911.org/the-mural-project. 

About the North Central Texas Emergency Communications District (NCT9-1-1):

The North Central Texas Emergency Communications District (NCT9-1-1) is responsible for 40 Emergency Communication Centers (ECC) in 14 counties surrounding the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. The district supports these ECCs through maintaining and upgrading 9-1-1 equipment, providing up-to-date mapping information, training 9-1-1 telecommunicators, educating the public on the proper use of 9-1-1, and monitoring ECC functionality and compliance. NCT9-1-1 serves a population of 2 million and 9,800 + square miles.

About Motorola Solutions:
Motorola Solutions is a global leader in public safety and enterprise security. Through technology, partnerships and community engagement initiatives, Motorola Solutions supports first responders and the agencies that serve communities across the country.