Spreading Kindness One Rock at a Time

Fox Chapel High School student Mikayla Feder inspires creativity and kindness with Sharpsburg Rocks.

At only 16 years old, Mikayla Feder—a junior at Fox Chapel Area High School—is already making an impact in her school and community. The daughter of Larry and Jeniffer Feder, Mikayla has combined her passion for creativity, leadership and community service to make a difference as program director of Sharpsburg Rocks—an initiative that blends creativity and community kindness.

Inspired by the program’s mission and need for new leadership, Mikayla recently stepped up to revitalize it. “Spreading kindness has a powerful impact on mental health,” she explains. “Sharpsburg Rocks unites people through creative expression, bringing positivity to our community.”

The initiative hosts monthly events at Roots of Faith’s Thursday Night Dinner Table where families can decorate rocks with acrylic paints. Each rock is then placed in a communal garden at Curley Park or left in various locations for others to find. The rocks, which often include motivational messages, serve as tokens of encouragement for those who discover them.

Mikayla has also expanded the reach of Sharpsburg Rocks by starting an Instagram page, @sharpsburg.rocks, where participants can share photos of the rocks they find. “It’s a fun way to connect with the community and spread joy beyond the painting events,” she says.

“The back of each painted rock invites the finder to check us out on Instagram, encouraging them to send us photos with the rock so we can post their findings.

“I would not be able to do any of this without the help of my friend, and fellow Fox Chapel junior, Fiona McCarthy,” she adds.

At school, Mikayla is an accomplished student leader. She serves as the editor of Student Life for the school yearbook and is an active member of several organizations, including the Distributive Education Clubs of America, Future Business Leaders of America, and the National Honor Society. Her achievements have been recognized with the prestigious Business Seal of Excellence.

Outside the classroom, Mikayla is equally dedicated to her community. Among her many accomplishments, she earned a Bronze Medal for the National Congressional Award and organized a Valentine’s Day party for children in Sharpsburg, where she discovered the Roots of Faith program. She also coordinated an event for 30 middle school Girl Scouts featuring a social worker who spoke about healthy social media strategies.

Looking ahead, Mikayla hopes to grow Sharpsburg Rocks by forming partnerships with like-minded organizations. In addition to monthly events at Roots of Faith, she’s introducing activities at other locations including Sharpsburg Towers,

a senior residential community.

“Spreading kindness in the community, one rock at a time” is more than just a slogan for Mikayla—it’s a meaningful mission dear to her heart that she’s passionate about.

To get involved or learn more, follow @sharpsburg.rocks on Instagram. The program welcomes participants of all ages and backgrounds to join in making a difference through creativity and kindness.