Rushville High School students install benches in honor of classmates

Benches were made from bottle caps the students collected

(RUSHVILLE, Ind.) – Two benches in memory of students have been installed at Rushville High School. 

17-year-old Valerie Tindall was killed by a 57-year-old man in 2023 who was convicted of her murder. 

17-year-old Tanner Harrison unexpectedly passed away in 2023.

Last year, their classmates came up with the idea to collect bottle caps in an effort to create two benches in their memory.  

With the help from people within and outside of the community, the students collected 1,600 bottle caps. 

“For six months, we cleaned and sorted every single piece. What carried us through wasn’t just the project itself, but the reminder of why we were doing it: for Valerie and Tanner, for the lives they lived, and for the place they will always hold in our hearts,” said 2025 Rushville graduate Dana Durbin. 

The students then drove to Evansville earlier this year to pick up the benches from the manufacturer. 

The two benches were installed at the high school on September 19.

“Now, standing there, in that space built with love and effort from so many hands, we have a place to sit, reflect, and remember. A place that honors Valerie and Tanner in a way that will outlast us all,” Durbin added. 

Durbin was assisted during the project by students Isabella Pavey, Carter Barnes, and Adrian Apodaca.