Taken from "Past and Present, EAST 1875 to 1950" page 23-24

This is a section describing the construction of the "old" East:

A gracious flight of steps led up to the main entrance of the building. Above these steps was the Keystone, the sculptured face of a young girl. The artist, who was in charge of the work was Preston Powers, the son of Highland Powers who carved the buffalo on the state grounds. The Denver Republican for November 20, 1898, tells of the selection of the model:
"When the ornamental work was being done in the interior of the East Denver High School, the sculptor who was engaged upon the work, Mr. Byrne, and the architect of the school, Mr. Roeschlaub, ant two other gentlemen were delegated by the school board to go through the public schools of Denver and pick out as perfect a type of childhood beauty as they could find, that the features might be chiseled and the face placed in the Keystone of the arch over the main entrance. This was done at the suggestion that instead of a Greek face being chosen from the artist's collection a Denver-born girl of as perfect a type be found if possible.
"The schools of the city were visited and out of 5,000 little girls Ella Catherine Matty was selected. Her type was ideal and the committee, the moment they set eyes upon her, were one in their decision. She was a beautiful child of 6 with laughing eyes, black as sloes, rosy cheeks, and an aureole of curly hair. But above all, her features were perfect.
"In time little Ella entered the high school where her baby face smiled down upon all the troops of boys and girls who passed under it. Last summer she was graduated from that school, and is now 17 years old. The beauty of her childhood has grown up with her until today she is accounted one of the most beautiful girls in Denver. She is the second of eight children, and of French and Swiss parentage. Coupled with her physical attractions, is a bright quick mind."
The statue was so lovely that those who saw it said that the artist could not have chosen a better model had he been able to have an angel pose. As a result the term "Angel" became applied to all East pupils, and they, in turn, used it as a team name. It must have been quite a thrill for Ella to have her face gazing down of the thousands that were graduated from the building during its forty years of existence. When the building was torn down, the Keystone was taken from the old building and placed in the rock garden at New East.