Mesa View Elementary Unveils Mural and Raises Flag in Celebration of National Blue Ribbon Honor

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – Seven months after earning one of the highest recognitions a U.S. school can achieve, Mesa View Elementary has marked the moment with color, pride, and community.

On April 25, staff, students, and families gathered under a spring sky to celebrate the school’s National Blue Ribbon designation. The event featured the raising of a new Blue Ribbon flag and the unveiling of a vibrant mural honoring the school’s achievement—a tribute not only to academic excellence, but to the collaborative spirit that helped make it possible.

A Rare Distinction for Colorado

Mesa View Elementary was among just four Colorado schools and roughly 350 schools nationwide to receive the 2024 National Blue Ribbon School award, which was first announced in September. The award, given by the U.S. Department of Education, honors schools for overall academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps.

Out of an estimated 97,000 public and private schools across the United States, only a fraction receive this annual recognition, making it a moment of immense pride for the Mesa County Valley School District.

Mesa View Elementary mural,

“We Can’t Do This in Isolation”

Principal Stacey Cohen used the celebration as a chance to credit those beyond the school’s walls. In her remarks, Cohen emphasized that the honor was as much about the broader community as it was about classroom performance.

“The difference between being a Blue Ribbon school and not is the community coming together,” said Cohen. “We can’t do this in isolation. You can have the best instruction in the world, but if the community isn’t behind you, it’s hard to be successful. And we wanted to celebrate all of them.”

Cohen also highlighted the contributions of teachers, support staff, parents, and local partners who help create a well-rounded learning environment for Mesa View students.

A Flag, A Mural, A Moment

As the new Blue Ribbon flag was raised next to the U.S. and Colorado flags outside the school, cheers erupted from the crowd. For the students, many wearing custom t-shirts and waving homemade signs, it was a tangible symbol of pride.

But it was the unveiling of the mural—painted on the school’s outer wall—that provided the most striking visual of the day.

Designed collaboratively by local artist volunteers and students, the mural incorporates elements of the school’s identity with Blue Ribbon branding, blending the imagery of books, nature, and soaring eagles with the unmistakable blue-and-gold ribbon motif.

“It was important to us that the mural reflect not just the award, but who we are as a school,” said art teacher Lisa Martinez, who helped coordinate the project. “This is something our students walk by every day. We want them to feel a connection to it.”

A School-Wide Commitment to Excellence

Mesa View’s journey to national recognition didn’t happen overnight.

The school has steadily climbed the academic rankings within the district over the last five years, with a strategic focus on literacy intervention, data-driven instruction, and social-emotional learning. Test scores, reading proficiency rates, and parent satisfaction surveys have all reflected steady improvement since 2019.

Key initiatives that contributed to the award include:

  • Targeted reading intervention for early grades

  • Teacher-led data teams to analyze student progress

  • Community reading nights and parent engagement programs

  • Partnerships with local libraries and museums

  • Cultural celebration days to support inclusivity

These programs were supported by district leadership, local business donors, and parent volunteers—many of whom were present at the April 25 ceremony.

Numbers Behind the Award

Here’s a look at the landscape of Blue Ribbon recipients in 2024:

Category National Total Colorado Total Mesa County
Eligible Schools ~97,000 ~1,800 ~70
Nominated for 2024 Blue Ribbon ~350 4 1
Public Schools (National) 313 3 1
Private Schools (National) 40+ 1 0

Mesa View Elementary is the only public school in the Mesa County Valley School District 51 to receive the award in 2024.

A Legacy in the Making

For parents like Michele Ledesma, whose two children attend Mesa View, the award is more than a banner on a wall—it’s validation of the school’s impact.

“We’ve always felt this was a special place, but now the whole country knows it,” said Ledesma, tearing up as the flag was raised. “It’s the little things they do here. The way teachers check in on kids, the way they push them but also care for them. It’s just… different.”

Principal Cohen hopes the recognition—and the mural—will inspire students for years to come.

“We want our students to know that they are capable of greatness,” she said. “This award isn’t the finish line—it’s a milestone. And it’s one they earned.”

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