Features: Citizen of the Week Nick Corti

When Wissahickon High School art teacher David Miller saw well-known high school senior soccer player and artist Nick Corti arm-in-arm with one of the female special education students during a crowded class change, he said it was one of the most beautiful things he has ever seen in his teaching career.

"It was just such a pure connection," Miller said. "They come walking down the hall and he offered her his elbow and he's walking her to another class ... and he was oblivious to anything else that was going on."

Now Corti, who has worked as a student aide in the school's special education department since his sophomore year, has combined his interests in art and the special ed program to work on a mural with the special education class. The mural, which is located on a wall outside of the school's art department, is a collection of artwork drawn by the special ed students.

"It's their work and how they express what's important to them," Corti said. "I made a piece of paper that had writing on the top and a box in the middle -- to draw something that's important to them. It ended up working out really well."

Corti's intent was to provide a space where the students could make a statement about themselves.

"The emphasis is a group of kids that don't get as much credit as they should," Corti said. "I wanted to have their work represented, which normally is not."

The mural, which began as Corti's graduation project, is dedicated to Ryan Machalette, a friend of Nick's from the special education department who recently passed away. Machalette, whose death was described by Corti as a "big shocker to everybody," was the first student Corti worked with during his sophomore year.

"His drawing is going to be in the center of it," Corti said. "It's a picture of his family."

Special education teacher Amy Shelby said that what makes Corti so unique is his extension as a friend and role model to the class.

"He came to the viewing for [Ryan] which meant a lot to Ryan's family to have Nick there," Shelby said. "I think that's an example to show how he goes the extra yard."

Corti, who began working as a student aide "by mistake," when he needed to fill an extra study hall, now works with the students for his own enjoyment.

"I really love hearing about their interests," Corti said. "I realloy like to hear about what they have to say about what they do and what they do on the weekends. I feel it's just as important [as what everyone else does.]"

The students, who range in age from 15 to 21, like working with Corti and have been thrilled to see their own work on display, according to Shelby.

"Nick has come in and just been a wonderful friend. He is truly their peer and they're his," Shelby said. "I think he's gotten our class accepted by the school in general."

Overall, the mural-in-progress has been well-received by students and faculty.

"I think that when people realize what [the mural] is about and who the original artists are, they think it's incredibly noble," Miller said. "And unfortunately they have to be told."

Corti plans to finish the mural by the end of March. According to Shelby, his big heart, as seen in his ongoing work with the class, is something for everyone to look up to.

"A lot of people think of nice as boring," Shelby said. "In Nick's case, I think nice is what you aspire to."