Metro wraps Nebraska Public Transit Week with a grand student art reveal
OMAHA, Neb. — Metro tied up 2025’s Nebraska Public Transit Week with a grand reveal.
The winning Wheel Appeal student art contest design was revealed on a 35-foot-bus at Metro’s headquarters in North Omaha.
The winner and her family saw the larger-than-life design for the first time when the bus rolled out of Metro’s garage.
“It’s life-changing, it doesn’t feel real to see it somewhere big like this,” said Avery Hightower, 15, who submitted the winning design.
Avery was a student at Bennington Middle School when she submitted her design for the Wheel Appeal contest. Avery’s design is brightly colored and features several cheerful animals, some with physical disabilities. “I did different characters to show different types,” said Avery. “There’s a snake and a bunny and a cat with no eye, there’s one on the other side with no leg.”
The bus features the messages “differences matter”
and “all the paws-ibilities”. Avery said she wants people to remember that everyone is different in some way and people shouldn’t judge others for that.
“It serves to remind us that we all have possibilities to bring to the table,” said Lauren Cencic, Metro’s CEO, in remarks she made leading up to the reveal. “We can all be vibrant and we can all celebrate what makes us different and what makes us shine.”
The reveal was the culmination of a full week of events celebrating public transit across the state of Nebraska. Metro hosted several Train the Trainer le
ssons, provided a webinar showcasing how businesses can prepare to potentially work with Metro, hosted an employee appreciation banquet, and partnered with the Omaha Public Library on a Books + Bus story time event.
The vice-chair of Metro’s board of directors told a room full of people that the designated week provides an opportunity to raise awareness on the importance of public transit in people’s everyday lives. “It’s really about more than getting people from one place to another,” said Daniel Padilla. “It’s about access, opportunities, and making connections along the way.”
This is the second time Metro has run the Wheel Appeal contest. The wraps stay on the buses for at least a year.
