Los Alamitos, CA - March 26 --District administration, the board of education, and the PTA recognized fifteen LAUSD students for their achievement in the 2014-15 National PTA Reflections arts in education program this week. The awards honor imagination, creativity, and interpretation of the theme, “The world would be a better place if…”

“Arts education is known to foster creativity, innovation, critical thinking and problem solving – important skills that boost students’ chances for success in college or career”, said Donna Chinn, PTA Arts Education chair and organizer for the Los Alamitos Alliance for Arts Education. Students in our school district have many opportunities to be involved in visual and performing arts. Board President Diana Hill reported that nearly two thirds of all the high school students take part in some form of art.

The National PTA Reflections program encourages students of all ages and abilities to explore and be involved in the arts. Through the program, National PTA and local PTAs across the country urge students in preschool through grade 12 to create and submit original works of art in the medium of their choice— dance choreography, film production, literature, music composition, photography and visual arts — reflecting on a specific theme. There also is a special artist division option for students with disabilities to ensure that all students have the opportunity to participate in the program. Students are recognized each year for their artistic ingenuity to bring the theme to life in a way that is personal and meaningful.

Some 200 Los Al students from all 9 schools participated in this year’s Reflections program. Artworks are judged at successive levels, with the top entries advancing for further judging.

The 15 students were the top ranked in their respective schools and the PTA Council. The Los Al students who advanced to Fourth District PTA were Taryn Ching-May Lee and Ryan Kang for Visual Arts; Trenton Gronewold, Sean Kelman, and Sienna Wu for Music Composition; Wyatt Butler for Photography, Luke Goldade and Ava Goddard for Literature; and Emmett Rebennack for Film Production.

Honorable Mentions were awarded to Sophia Mendez for Dance Choreography, Simon Martin for Literature, Mylinh Vu for Music Composition, and Samantha Paul for Visual Arts. Avi Jagdish earned an Award of Merit for Visual Arts. Grant Lock earned an Award of Excellence and advanced to the CA State level, where he received an Award of Merit.

The public was invited to view all of the artworks at the Reflections Gallery event held at McAuliffe on March 25th. The 2015-16 theme for Reflections is “Let Your Imagination Fly”, which will kick-off in the fall.

Photo caption: Council PTA Reflections students display their certificates at the March 24th school board meting, presented by Superintendent Sherry Kropp, PTA Arts Education Chair Donna Chinn, School Board President Diana Hill, and Reflections Co-Chair Remy Hernandez.