2010 Reflections Awards - The California State PTA

California State PTA
2010 Reflections Award Recipients
2009-2010 Theme – “Beauty is …”
The National PTA Reflections Program is an arts
recognition and achievement program for students.
The Reflections Program provides opportunities for
students to express themselves creatively and to receive
positive recognition for original works of art inspired
by a preselected theme, while increasing
community awareness on the importance of the arts in
education.
The Reflections Program was established in 1969 by
National PTA board member Mary Lou Anderson.
Since that time, more than 10 million students have
participated in the program. The program’s longevity
and participation figures attest to its strength. The excitement
and enthusiasm that the program generates
for children, parents, schools and communities is unmatched.
Participation and appreciation for the arts is the goal of
the Reflections Program.
Participation in the Reflections Program is a great way
for students to explore and learn about various art
forms. Creating art is a valuable learning process that
challenges students to use their critical thinking skills
as well as their creative talents to create art that supports
a specific theme. Participation in the California
Reflections program is open to all students in attendance
at PTA/PTSA schools where the program is
sponsored.
Students submit original artwork in any of the six arts
areas listed below.
• Literature
• Musical composition
• Photography
• Visual arts
• Dance choreography
• Film/Video production
Participation in the Reflections Program is organized
by school grade. Student works are critiqued against
others in the same grade division. This allows recognition
and judging of artworks by appropriate developmental
age and skill levels. The four grade divisions
are as follows:
• Primary Preschool Grade 2 or up to age 7
• Intermediate Grades 3-5 or ages 8-10
• Middle/Junior Grades 6-8 or ages 11-13
• Senior Grades 9-12 or ages 14 and up
The Reflections Program is structured for PTAs to recognize
students at the local unit, council, PTA district,
state and national levels. Entries are first judged at the
local unit level, where selected works are chosen to
represent the PTA at each subsequent level. Once entries
reach the level of the California State PTA, entries
may be selected for submission to the National
PTA. Award of Excellence and Awards of Merit are
recognized at the annual National PTA convention and
are displayed as part of the program’s traveling exhibit.
FUTURE REFLECTIONS PROGRAM THEME
The National PTA is looking for a theme for its 2011-
2012 Reflections Program. A student’s suggestions for
the theme ideas may be sent to the California State
PTA by the individual student or by a local PTA/PTSA.
The theme may include a wide variety of subjects that
will appeal to students in preschool through grade 12.
The winning student will receive $100 and recognition
at the National PTA Convention held in June. See
www.capta.org for more information.
2010-2011 Theme – TOGETHER WE CAN
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2010 California State PTA Convention Program Book

Award of Excellence and Award of Merit work is on display in Exhibit Hall B, next to the PTA
Store. The Reflections Committee selected a few art and photography favorites to be shown in
the Convention Display, as well. The additional works are the effort of students listed below.
CATEGORY DISTRICT NAME GRADE SCHOOL
PHotoGRAPHY
11 Samantha Cobian K Sanger Academy
32 Ty Johnston 1 Vista Grande Elementary
31 Kenneth Simpson Jr. 2 Vintage Magnet Elementary
2 Kiran T. Mukherjee 3 Rooftop Elementary
24 Savannah NcNiece 3 Ocean View PTA
12 Kate Fayloga 5 Wildwood Elementary
5 Tommy J. Soderholm 6 Grandview Elementary
Peralta Sanjeev Reddy 8 Horner Jr. High School
14 Tianna Reid 9 Rancho Cotate High School
5 Morgan K. Nissel 12 Alta Loma High School
CATEGORY DISTRICT NAME GRADE SCHOOL
viSUAl ARtS
18 Kara Fulton 1 Mary Farmar Elementary
21 Sophie Wasem 2 Hurley Elementary
22 Malia Gilbert 2 Cutten Ridgewood Elementary
34 Audrey Park 2 Oak Hills Elementary
34 Hana Kim 4 Bridgeport Elementary
17 Alice Zheng 5 Brewer Island Elementary
24 Eden Mostajo 5 Ocean View PTA Elementary
4 Steve Choi 6 Laguna Road School
33 Michelle Askar 6 El Segundo Middle
6 Emily Su 8 Miller Middle
23 Joann Lee 8 Gage Middle School
12 Karen Hong 10 Santa Susana High School
30 Jazzmend Crabtree 10 Westwood High
5 Rachel Kang 12 Upland Highlander High
13 Natasha Burns 12 Pleasant Valley High School
2010 California State PTA Convention Program Book Reflections Program | 61

eflections Award Winners
PRIMARY Karah Lee – Grade 1, Age 6
Towers Elementary School, District 33
Beauty is Becoming a Butterfly
Beauty isn’t something that is just pretty. Some people think that
caterpillars are not pretty. But one day that same caterpillar that
crawls around on the ground in the dirt will become a big beautiful
butterfly that flies over everyone’s head. Now that is beauty! In my
dance, a caterpillar spins a cocoon, and a butterfly slowly pushes itself
out of the cocoon and flies with its new wings.
PRIMARY Priscilla Gardina – Grade 1, Age 6
Paradise Canyon Elementary, District 1
Beauty is Life
I was scared after the Station Fire because my house almost burned.
When I saw green plants I was really happy.
INTERMEDIATE Julianna Yonis – Grade 5, Age 10
Cornerstone Elementary School, District 33
Beauty is…How you Feel!
My statement is that beauty is ... how you feel about yourself. I chose
the song “Beautiful” because it reflects this idea. It starts in a scene of
frustration and progresses to happiness … and beauty.
MIDDLE-JUNIOR Devina Sen – Grade 6, Age 11
Foothills Middle School, District 1
“What a Wonderful World” … Odissi Style
Hi, my name is Devina Sen and what you will see is my Odissi dance
interpretation of Louis Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World.” Odissi
is a classical dance form which originated from India hundreds of
years ago. I learn from my guru Nandita Behera. This costume, to
create this dance, I took many feet movements from Odissi and
added hand movements which symbolized the lyrics. Since the Reflections
theme is Beauty is..., I found “What a Wonderful World” the
perfect song since it describes Earth’s natural beauty, things you can
stare at forever. Beauty is everything described in Armstrong’s song
and more. To me, beauty is the trait something or someone has that
is rather appealing to you – like the grace of the waves on the shore,
the rich feeling when a cool breeze softly brushes against your face
and the times you look down onto a vast colorful scenery of cities,
lakes and fields. I was inspired to choreograph this piece since I
heard about the Reflections Program.
SENIOR Kimberly Cronin – Grade 12, Age 17
Palisades Charter High School, District 10
Simplicity
The theme “Beauty is …” was what ultimately inspired my vision, and
my song choice was the driving force behind my dance choreography.
I want to show through movement and setting that life’s simple gifts
are beautiful. The movement is minimal and pedestrian in places to
show that beauty is seen through simplicity. That true beauty is the
sun glistening on the water, the waves crashing to the shore, the sand
between your toes, and the wonderful gift of dance.
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INTERMEDIATE Emily Kuhn – Grade 4, Age 9
Harbor View Elementary, District 4
The Music and Magic of Crystal Cove
I chose Crystal Cove because the sea creatures excite me, and the
ocean calms me. Each time I go, I marvel at the patterns in the rocks.
The music in the background was being played by my good friend
Rafael Bejarano. I asked him to play the huaca (a multi-chambered
flute) because of its beautiful soothing melody, and how it complements
the sound of rushing waves. Crystal Cove is the most beautiful
place I’ve ever seen.
MIDDLE-JUNIOR James Sutton – Grade 8, Age 13
Santa Rosa Technology School, District 12
True Beauty
Whatever you believe, that’s true beauty as artistically and individually
presented.
SENIOR Chad Rabago – Grade 11, Age 16
Brea Olinda High School, District 4
Sole Mate
When I first heard the theme “Beauty is …” I immediately thought of
beauty being love and finding your one true love. However, I thought
that this idea was kind of played out, so I got to thinking about how I
could give a different perspective on what it’s like to find love. I eventually
thought of the idea of inanimate objects being able to have
human feelings and emotions. The idea was appealing, of paired
shoes being more than just matching things on your feet, but symbols
of people struggling and finding their perfect mate in life. The beauty
is that simple things in life, such as paired shoes, can mean much
more when you look at it in a different way, and can even represent
some of the strongest emotions in our heart, such as sadness and
love. Beauty is ... finding your soul mate, in other ways than you
might expect.
2010 California State PTA Convention Program Book

AWARDS oF eXCellenCe
PRIMARY Aaron Massey – Grade 2, Age 7
Terrace View Elementary, District 5
Beauty Everywhere
I’m telling about beauty in some way, and I’m telling what beauty can
do.
Aaron’s essay can be found on page 66.
PRIMARY Max Potruch – Grade 2, Age 7
Cowan Avenue Elementary, District 10
Beauty is … Right Outside My Window
I just had the idea of writing it. Nature is beautiful so I wanted to write
about nature outside my window. My friend Tommy is nice, he’s
friendly and that’s beautiful too. Beauty is right outside my window.
INTERMEDIATE Theresa M. Lane – Grade 4, Age 9
Monte Vista School, District 15
Beauty is …
Beauty is not just what you see on the outside, it is inside of you and
how you treat other people.
Theresa’s essay can be found on page 66.
INTERMEDIATE Sophie Smith – Grade 5, Age 10
Franklin Elementary, District 33
You Lift Me Up
“Beauty is …” Whether you see beauty through the stars, sun or butterflies.
Whether you discover beauty through love, laughter, joy, or
happiness. Hopefully, my song, “You Lift Me Up,” will inspire you to
feel the beauty within yourself.
MIDDLE-JUNIOR Troy Miller – Grade 6, Age 11
Walnut Creek Intermediate School, District 32
What We Are
My paper is titled “What We Are” because the beautiful picture you
see when you look at the world through a window way up high on a
plane is really what we are. You don’t see all the problems down on
the ground – just the beauty of everything all blended together.
Troy’s essay can be found on page 66.
MIDDLE-JUNIOR Kylie McCall – Grade 7, Age 12
Shivela Middle School, District 23
Music Changes Lives
I was inspired to create “Music Changes Lives” because music has
changed my life. Every time that I’ve felt sad or even scared, I just
turned on some happy music and felt better. This relates to the theme
of “Beauty is …” because I think that music is beautiful because it has
the ability to change people’s moods and sound amazing.
SENIOR Victoria Greaves – Grade 11, Age 16
Los Osos High School, District 5
Open Your Eyes
My poem illustrates various forms that beauty can take, both in nature
and in people. It reveals the fact that beauty is apparent only to those
who choose to see it.
SENIOR Taylor Howe – Grade 12, Age 17
Huntington Beach High School, District 4
Changes
Beauty is daring to make a difference, and daring to change for the
better.
Victoria’s essay can be found on page 67.
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eflections Award Winners
PRIMARY Allison Kemmerer – Grade 2, Age 7
Brandon School, District 15
Beauty is My Grandparents Celebrating Their 71 st Anniversary
I think it’s beautiful that they have been together for a very long time.
MIDDLE-JUNIOR Isabella Kacic – Grade 7, Age 12
Hill Middle School, District 16
Dancing Flames
Beauty is in the flames that dance on the candles waiting for a wish to
be made.
INTERMEDIATE Miya Sakai-Cheng – Grade 4, Age 9
Brookside School, District 8
Reflections of Beauty
I took the photo in Roma, Italia, at a local market. Beauty is many
things in this photo to me, my loving auntie, mouthwatering food (my
favorite prosciutto), the Italian store owner, amazing architecture, fantastic
fruit market, and local shoppers buying their daily groceries. I
appreciate and love all of these things. Even though this is one photo,
it captures many beauties of my trip to Roma.
SENIOR Kiana Matsura – Grade 11, Age 15
Thousand Oaks High School, District 12
Beauty is … Friendship.
I think friendship is beautiful because no matter where you are or how
alone you may feel, somebody is always there for you. Whether or
not they are physically near you.
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2010 California State PTA Convention Program Book

AWARDS oF eXCellenCe
PRIMARY Asa Garner – Grade 1, Age 6
Los Feliz Charter, District 10
The Kite’s Eye View
What is more beautiful than flying a kite on a beautiful day.
MIDDLE-JUNIOR Angela Sun – Grade 6, Age 11
Foothills Middle School, District 1
Beauty is the different cultures and history of art
I think art is very beautiful. It helps express feelings.
INTERMEDIATE Kaitlyn Kui – Grade 4, Age 9
Pony Express Elementary School, District 3
Untitled
On summer vacation I would visit my grandparents in Australia. Each
time I see my grandma I see her getting older and her hair more
grayer, but I still find her beautiful.
SENIOR Bailey Miller – Grade 11, Age 16
Folsom High School, District 3
Free Flyer
Freedom is beautiful. The yearning to be completely free is well known
and felt in every soul. Whether it’s being physically free, emotionally
free, or individually free, the concept of absolute freedom ignites the
fire of life within us and compels our inner voice to scream for it. Freedom
is the ultimate, incredible desire, and it is undoubtedly beautiful.
2010 California State PTA Convention Program Book Reflections Program | 65

eflections Award Winners
Beauty Everywhere
Aaron Massey
What We Are
Troy Miller
Beauty is when you’re on time for school.
Beauty is when you don’t break a rule.
Beauty is to see a smile.
Beauty is to have recess for a while.
Beauty is when you pass a test.
Beauty is when you do your best.
You can find beauty everywhere you are.
You can find beauty near or far.
Beauty is wherever you go.
Beauty is high or low.
Beauty is to see a flower bloom.
Beauty can take away your gloom.
Beauty is in the trees.
Beauty is in their leaves.
Beauty can be here or there.
Beauty is everywhere!
Beauty is …
Beauty is more than just skin deep;
It’s your inner star that shines
When helping others in great need,
And being loyal and kind.
It’s picking flowers for the sick and old
Or rescuing a stray cat;
It’s taking a stand and being bold
When a bully calls your friend fat.
It’s helping your friend with her homework
And being on time to school;
It’s saying “please” and “thank you”
And following the rules.
It’s going to the beach
To pick up litter;
And winning second prize
Without being bitter.
66 | Reflections Program
Theresa M. Lane
It’s accepting everyone as they are,
With their good points and their bad;
And not talking about friends behind their backs
And trying not to get mad.
It’s welcoming others to be your friend
And greeting everyone with a smile;
It’s trying to put others first
And going the extra mile.
Two weeks ago I found myself staring out the window of a huge jumbo
jet approaching 30,000 feet above the ground. I was flying by myself
back home to the Bay Area after visiting my older brother at his school
in Southern California. The man next to me wore his headphones the
entire flight, so I had a lot of time to just quietly stare out the window. I
saw the houses get smaller and smaller, the ocean blend into the
land, and the clouds cover everything like a blanket. Like a light bulb
suddenly, turning on, I realized while I was looking down at the world
that everything looks so much more beautiful way up high than it does
on the ground.
Small differences don’t really matter if you look from far away. From
my window, the people were the first things that started to get blurry.
As the plane began to climb, I couldn’t tell one person from another. It
didn’t matter what color hair they had, what type of clothes they wore,
or what body type they had. All I could tell was that they were human.
I couldn’t make out what types of cars people drove because all the
cars looked like ants. All I could tell was that they were transportation.
The houses all looked pretty much the same. I could tell where the
towns and cities were from the lights, but as the plane went up higher
and higher, I could no longer even tell the boundaries. Then, the
clouds covered everything, and when I looked down, I saw nothing but
white.
It occurred to me that all the things people care about on Earth don’t
matter at all when they are seen from a great distance. So why do we
care so much about how we look? Why do we think a lot about our
hair, our clothes, and whether we’re fat or thin? Is a person better just
because he drives a Lamborghini instead of a station wagon? Does it
really matter if you live in a mansion or a motel? My grandma says
that when you get older, these things don’t mean so much, and people
wonder why they cared so much about them when they were younger.
I thought about that when I watched the clouds cover everything in
sight.
As I looked at the ocean and land peeking through the clouds, I understood
that we’re all connected to each other. Everything on Earth
when looked at from up high blends together. The higher you go, the
more this happens. I’ve seen pictures from NASA, and even the huge
continents blur together with the oceans when seen from a spaceship.
We’re all human, we all live together, and we all want the same things
in life: to be happy, eat good food, be healthy, and have fun. The little
differences really don’t matter looking out the window on a plane, and
it’s strange that they matter so much down below on the ground.
Ask yourself – so which is more beautiful: the view on the ground or
the view from above? I think there’s no comparison. The view from up
high wins by a landslide because it shows how everything in life
comes together to create a beautiful picture. This picture has nothing
wrong with it and is simply natural. It’s what we are.
2010 California State PTA Convention Program Book

AWARDS oF eXCellenCe
Open Your Eyes
Victoria Greaves
Beauty is …
Everywhere you look
If only you have eyes that see.
It greets your gaze each morning,
The sun breaking free of its icy captor
To send glorious rays darting across the skies.
It is in the moistened petals of a delicate flower,
The dew shimmering and reflecting light in your eyes.
It is in each moment of joy, in the smile of those you love.
It is in the bubbling
laughter of the lighthearted children;
As they dance, a
flurry of color and song fills the air.
Behold, beauty
is right there in front of you.
How is it
that you cannot see?
It was in her
very presence;
it radiated from her being.
As she swayed down the aisle, beauty
was there for all to see.
Yet somehow
it was lost; time and age
have turned color to gray.
Beauty is … everywhere except in the eyes of those who stop looking.
Her face is downcast, and her light begins to
fade out of sight
The ring
which once graced her left hand so
elegantly dazzling,
Wrest from perfection amidst anger and spite, shed as a tear to the floor.
The children have ceased their dancing; their feet fall with heavy steps.
To this family, the sun rises into an icy sky; no warmth is felt from its light.
Who looks to those small, insignificant petals anymore, who cares for their dew?
When one can no longer see beauty, images are soon
distorted for all.
Families are broken, homes ravaged, destruction far worse than a storm.
But hope still lives, that sun still rises, and as one has made his world ugly,
Only one is needed to rekindle the flame of
beauty once again.
Beauty is …
a candle flickering in the darkness, illuminating the way.
All take joy in
its warmth; anger and wrath fade into the shadows.
In its light all is
exposed, and only truth can reign.
The rhythmic sway
of the flame brings peace and calm
And soon many draw near, the golden light reflected in their eyes.
These are eyes that glimmer and shine; they can once again see.
They shine their passion and joy much like the candlelight;
Fire fans into a mighty flame that all shall soon perceive.
Beauty is not meant to hide; it is always in the light.
That great sun rises, and with it, a choice for you
Can you bear to look to that fiery light?
In a world that is so often blind,
Will you choose to see?
Do you know what
Beauty is …
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eflections
AWARDS oF MeRit
AWARDS OF MERIT – DANCE
District Name
Grade School
4 Maya Shimizu 3 J.H. McGaugh Elementary
4 Denae Luce 9 Tesoro
5 Ariana Montero 2 Newman Elementary
5 Madison Wingo 5 Smiley Elementary
6 Zachary Yuen 10 Cupertino High School
9 Illana Arias 9 Fallbrook High School
12 Liana Leininger 2 Las Virgenes Arts PTA
22 Brynn Flanagan 2 Cutten Ridgewood Elementary
23 Devan Hansen 6 Alcott Elementary
31 Mercedez Sanchez 6 Millikan Middle School
34 Maggie Doty 5 Stevenson Ranch Elementary
34 Madison Conte 6 Quartz Hills Elementary
AWARDS OF MERIT – FILM
District Name
Grade School
1 Camryn Lozano 5 John Fremont Elementary
1 Young Yi 12 La Cañada High
4 Dylan Farrell 2 Ladera Ranch Elementary
6 Yush Raje 4 Smith Elementary
6 Nicholas Dobkin 12 Homestead High
21 Hope Pearson 7 Valley Oak Middle School
32 Audrey Knox 11 Las Lomas High School
33 Sophia Muir 2 Newcomb Elementary
34 Andrew Sutherland 2 Mountainview Elementary
34 Andrea Lopez 3 Valencia Valley Elementary
34 Isabeau Lauron 8 La Mesa Junior High
Peralta Zaria Zinn 8 Lincoln Middle School
AWARDS OF MERIT – LITERATURE
District Name
Grade School
5 Adriana Lucas 5 Calimesa Elementary
5 Marleigh Avlis 7 Beattie Middle School
12 Eric Williamson 2 Campus Canyon Elementary
12 Jeffrey Hinkle 6 Simi Elementary
17 Cameron Marsden 6 Borel Middle School
18 Eric Sickels 10 Benicia High School
22 Pia Isabel Tan 5 Cutten Ridgewood Elementary
31 Anthony Ray 2 Dearborn St. Elementary
31 Jessica Palafox 12 Granada Hills Charter High
School
33 Gregory Ovalle 1 Washington Elementary
33 Soo Yun Kim 16 North High School
34 Tatyana Nurse 3 Palmdale Learning Plaza
AWARDS OF MERIT – MUSIC
District Name
Grade School
1 Justin Llamas 8 Wilson Middle
4 Chloe Li 2 Foothill Ranch
4 Kasia Kosmala-Dahlbeck 7 Shorecliffs
5 Brianne Byers 4 Gerald Litel Elementary
6 Kristen Anderson 7 Cupertino Middle
9 James Bishop 10 Poway High School
10 Jenna Liddell 4 Castle Heights Elementary
10 Hannah Gross 11 Palisades Charter High School
12 Joshua Carlon 2 Las Virgenes Arts PTA
12 Cory Smith 10 Westlake High School
21 Solomon Stahl 2 Mineral King Elementary
34 Anatalia Hordov 5 Sulphur Springs Community
Elementary
AWARDS OF MERIT – PHOTOGRAPHY
District Name
Grade School
1 Clyde Hovsepian 5 R.D. White Elementary
3 Natalie Gubbins 3 Heritage Oak
4 Julia Narey 7 Brea Junior High
6 Joyce Lee 12 Lynbrook High
9 Nicholas Viatella 1 Benchley-Weinberger
10 Phoebe Tatton 1 Third Street Elementary
23 Selah Kelley 3 Brookside Elementary
23 Jack McKenzie 6 Magnolia Elementary
31 Michael Reed 10 El Camino High School
32 Ewald Polifrone 7 Walnut Creek Intermediate
School
33 Maleha Innocent 1 Lunada Bay Elementary
Peralta Muthupandian Mohan 10 Irvington High School
AWARDS OF MERIT – VISUAL ARTS
District Name
Grade School
1 Annie Zhou 2 Baldwin Stocker
1 Alice Yang 9 Arcadia High School
4 Chris Song 4 Northwood Elementary
4 LeeJoon Kim 9 Northwood High School
9 Cecelia French 4 Northmont Elementary
9 Meagan Wu 8 Canyon View Middle School
9 Miwa Shirai 9 West View High School
10 Roy Yang 3 Third Street Elementary
15 Gabriel D. Relyea 7 Orcutt Junior High School
23 Brandon Chang 2 Norco Elementary
31 Christi Pak 8 Walter Reed Middle
32 Samuel Andersen 2 Pleasant Hill Elementary
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2010 California State PTA Convention Program Book

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