Students Paint 'Senior Wall' in Honor of Dudley

A day after the death of one of their classmates, seniors at honored their peer and friend the best way they knew how—with paint.

Students painted the message "We Love Andrew Dudley — R.I.P." on the famous "Senior Wall" Thursday. Dudley, an 18-year-old senior, after he was struck by a car while biking out of a church parking lot in Minnetonka.

“Mellow was the word his counselors and teachers and friends are describing him as," principal Rob Metz said of Dudley. "Mellow, easy-going, cheerful, happy-go-lucky.”

The "Senior Wall," which is on the backside of the track and field equipment shed, has long been a place for Park seniors to mark their final year at the school. Student groups and sports team often use the wall to celebrate their particular seniors. On a few occasions, a brave senior boy has used the wall to ask a girl to prom. Earlier this year, the wall was painted in honor of Jack Jablonski.

Every year, after graduation, juniors get their crack at the wall, allowing them to introduce the coming year's senior class.