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Reflections Arts Program

National PTA Reflections Awards

Each year, students in Pre-K through Grade 12 are invited to create and submit original works of art in the areas of Dance Choreography, Film Production, Literature, Music Composition, Photography and Visual Arts. Students participate in the appropriate division for their grade: Primary (Pre-K - Grade 2); Intermediate (Grades 3-5); Middle School (Grades 6-8); High School (Grades 9-12); and Accessible Arts** (All grades welcome). 

Based on State PTA rules and guidelines, these works of art may be submitted for state and national level awards and recognition opportunities.

**Students who identify as having a disability and may receive services under IDEA or ADA: Section 504 may enter in the Accessible Arts Division (formerly the Special Artist division) or grade division most closely aligned to their support needs.

DanceFilmLiteratureMusicPhotographyVisual ArtsSpecial Education

2023-2024 I am Hopeful Because... Reflections Awards

 

Congratulations Reflections Winners!

From 45 state PTA congresses, National PTA received over 900 student entries inspired by the 2023-2024 Reflections theme I am Hopeful Because.... Of those submissions, we are thrilled to recognize over 200 student artists with Awards of Excellence and Merit and honor seven students with the top Outstanding Interpretation Award. 

Explore the full list of awardees and join us in congratulating all 200+ national-level Reflections winners.


Let's Celebrate!

With so many talented artists to celebrate, National PTA will continue to acknowledge and highlight our 2023-2024 PTA Reflections national winners throughout the 2024-2025 school year. 

Coming Soon

Join us for our annual Reflections Student Arts Showcase, which will premiere Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025 at 7 p.m. EST on National PTA's YouTube Channel. In this special event, you'll get to hear from a selection of national-level winning artists who will share with us their creative inspiration and perspective on the value of hope in their lives. The showcase will also recognize all national-level wining artists from the "I am Hopeful Because..." Reflections program.

Help us spread the word!

Download our promotional toolkit, which includes sample messages and graphics, to share the Showcase RSVP page and invite your PTA network, friends and family to join in the celebration! 

 

Don't miss out on the fun! 

RSVP to tell us you'll be attending and we'll be sure you receive timely reminders before the event in January.

Watch Now

During the virtual 2023-2024 Outstanding Interpretation Reflections Winner Celebration, we heard the seven student artists who achieved the Award of Outstanding Interpretation for their creative exploration of the theme "I am Hopeful Because..."

Watch the celebration to learn more about:
  • Grace Manning | Visual Arts: "I am Hopeful Because of Literacy and Humanity"
  • Orion Edwards-Wilson | Music Composition: "A Spark of Hope"      
  • Gauri Binup | Literature: "Hopeful" 
  • Soraya Arjomand | Dance Choreography: "Times Embrace"
  • Olivia GarzaFilm Production: "After Tragedy"
  • Ansh Patel | Photography: "Faith is the Solution"
  • Gavin Brown | Film Production-Special Artist division: "I am Hopeful Because… An Animated Short Film"
The virtual event explored their award-winning artwork and also recognized all national winners throughout the show and in the scrolling credits. 
 

Download and Share

Use these template Reflections winner graphics to spread the word about these awesome student artists. Remember to tag @NationalPTA and use #PTAReflections to share your celebration photos and artwork with us!

Celebration Graphic for Students

Student

Celebration Graphics for PTAs

PTA

Celebration Graphics for PTSAs

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Virtual Exhibit: 2023-2024 I am Hopeful Because... Awardees

Check out our virtual exhibit recognizing all national-level award winning artwork submitted in the 2022-2023 National PTA Reflections program, I am Hopeful Because...

Use the arrows to move through each album or head to the full collection.
 

Dance Choreography 

Dance Choreography - National Awardees

Film Production 

Film Production -National Awardees

Literature 

Literature - National Awardees

Music Composition 

Music Composition - National Awardees

Visual Arts 

Visual Art - National Awardees

Photography 

Photography - National Awardees



National Level Reflections Review and Awards

 

Reflections Review Criteria


Student entries submitted to the national level go through two rounds of review by arts professionals from across the country. During the evaluation process, judges will consider the following criteria:

  • Interpretation: How closely the piece relates to the theme, based on the work itself and the artist statement. 

  • Creativity: How creative and original the piece is in its conception of the theme and its presentation. 

  • Technique: The level of skill demonstrated in the basic principles/techniques of the arts area.

Of the national-level submissions, over 200 student Reflections participants will receive awards, prizes and recognition from National PTA.

Reflections Awards and Prizes

After two rounds of national level review, National PTA awards over 200 student artists with national-level Awards of Excellence and Merit and honors seven students with the top Outstanding Interpretation Award. 


National level winners are announced on May 1 each year. Direct communication is provided to winning student artists by National PTA to share notice of the awards and outline prizes. Based on their award, student artists receive the prizes outlined below: 

  • Merit Award: Bronze Medal; Certificate of Merit; Work featured in the virtual exhibition
  • Award of Excellence: $200 Young Artist Scholarship; Silver Medal; Certificate of Excellence; Work featured in the virtual exhibition
  • Outstanding Interpretation Award: $800 Young Artist Scholarship; Gold Medal; Certificate of Outstanding Interpretation; Work featured in the virtual exhibition; $200 Prize for Local PTA Unit

Crafting a Reflections Artist Statement


In Reflections, judges strongly consider the artist's interpretation of the Reflections theme as shown in the student's original artwork, title and artist statement.

To best represent their creativity and originality, artists should create:

  • A title that stands out and describes how the piece relates to their personal interpretation of the theme

  • An artist statement that further describes their theme interpretation and explores the creative process and decisions they made when making their art.

An artist statement should reflect the student's age and/or support needs. Any support provided by an adult (e.g., teacher, parent, guardian) should be minimal and should not alter the student's creative vision or process.

Artists can consider the following when developing a title and artist statement

  • Why did you choose to create your piece in the specific arts category you selected?

  • How does your work specifically relate to the theme?

  • Explore metaphors or allusions in your artwork to highlight complex or critical parts of your work.

  • What is your personal connection to the theme? What/who was your inspiration? How do these connections show up in your art?

  • Explain the creative decisions you made so your work would be unique to you and your interpretation of the theme.

  • What tools, materials and methods did you use to create your work (e.g., supplies, technology, instrumentation, props, etc.)? What made you choose those items?


Previous National PTA Reflections Student Arts Celebrations

 

2022-2023 Show Your Voice! Reflections Program


The 2023 Virtual Outstanding Interpretation Reflections Winners Celebration honors the top seven national winners from the 2022-2023 Show Your Voice! Reflections program.

The 2024 Virtual Reflections Student Arts Showcase featured over 20 short interviews with select student artists—and a few special guests—discussing their award-winning artwork from the 2022-2023 Show Your Voice! Reflections program

2021-2022 I Will Change the World By... Reflections Program


The 2022 Virtual Outstanding Interpretation Reflections Winners Celebration honors the top seven national winners from the 2021-2022 I Will Change the World By..Reflections program.

The 2023 Reflections Showcase featured a selection of artists and recognized all our national-level winning artists from the 2021-2022 National PTA Reflections program, I Will Change the World By...

2020-2021 I Matter Because... Reflections Program


The 2021 National PTA Convention awards program celebrates the Outstanding Interpretation Reflections winners for the 2020-2021 I Matter Because... Reflections program.

The 2022 Virtual Reflections Student Arts Showcase celebrates a selection of Reflections national winners from the 2020-2021 I Matter Because... program. National PTA is also proud to provide the 2022 Virtual Reflections Showcase in Spanish.
   



Annual Theme Search Contest

  
Help Inspire a Future Reflections Program

Every year, National PTA hosts our annual Reflections Theme Search Contest to select one student theme to inspire student artists as they participate in a future PTA Reflections program. The national winning student will receive a $100 award and national recognition. Themes are selected two years in advance.   

We’re looking for the most original theme ideas, so past themes and duplicate submissions will not be considered. Explore the past 50+ years of winning themes for reference and inspiration! 

How to Participate

Students can participate and submit entries following the process and guidelines outlined by their state PTA. Each state PTA may submit up to five student-created themes to National PTA by 11:59 p.m. PST on December 1. National PTA only consider entries submitted by state PTAs. 

For details around how to participate, including when and how to submit entries, interested participants, parents or PTAs should reach out to their state PTA or visit their state PTA Reflections webpage

Current and Upcoming Themes


  

2024-2025 Theme
Thanks to Paige Opaska from Barbara Bush Middle School PTA in Texas who submitted the 2024-2025 Reflections theme Accepting Imperfection. Read this blog spotlight to meet Paige and learn about her inspiration. 

2025-2026 Theme
Congratulations to the most recent winner of the Annual Theme Search Contest: Ben Morgan from Lewis and Clark Middle School PTSA in Idaho! Ben’s submission, I Belong! will be the 2025-2026 Reflections theme. Learn more about Ben and the inspiration behind the theme.



Annual Mary Lou Anderson Reflections Arts Enhancement Grant   

Sponsored by the Family of Mary Lou Anderson  — 2024 Funding Opportunities Now Closed
 

Through the Mary Lou Anderson Reflections Arts Enhancement Grant two local PTAs are awarded funds to administer innovative, student-centered programs that increase access to high quality arts learning experiences and provide new pathways for at-risk and underserved students to participate in arts education experiences, including National PTA’s Reflections program. Learn more at PTA.org/ArtsEd.

Congratulations to the 2024 Mary Lou Anderson Reflections Arts Enhancement Grantees:

  • Boca Raton Community High School PTSA from Boca Raton, Florida

Curious how past grantees have used the grant funds? Read this Our Children blog to learn how our 2023 Grantees supported arts education and Reflections in their community. 



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