Thunder Mountain art students are helping provide childhood keepsakes for children around the world this fall.

Falcons students have joined the Memory Project, which is a nonprofit that asks art teachers and students to donate portraits to youth around the world who face major hardships. Children dealing with poverty, abuse, neglect and other adverse situations might not have many personal keepsakes, and the Memory Project helps provide these in the form of portraits.

This is the second time TMHS students have participated in the program. Students were sent photos of children who were waiting for portraits, and then worked in their classrooms to create the portraits. The students will make portraits for seven children in the Philippines and six children in Syrian refugee camps. Once the portraits are complete, the Memory Project will deliver them to the children.

Students participating in the program include seniors Ashyton Ashcroft, Seora Chon, Karina Ireno and Michael Julson; junior Tianah Sangster; sophomore BriAnna Overturf; and freshmen Marlena Belknap and Taisha Fermin.

Since the formation of the Memory Project in 2004, more than 100,000 American art students have created portraits for children in 44 countries.

Thunder Mountain High School senior Michael Julson poses with a portrait he made as part of the Memory Project. The project sends portraits to children in distress all over the world, giving them a keepsake. (Photo courtesy of Angela Imboden)

Thunder Mountain High School senior Ashyton Ashcroft poses with a portrait she made as part of the Memory Project. The project sends portraits to children in distress all over the world, giving them a keepsake. (Photo courtesy of Angela Imboden)