Awards

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

Of the national-level submissions, over 200 student Reflections participants will receive the following awards from National PTA:

  • Merit Award: Bronze Medal; Certificate of Merit; Work featured in the traveling exhibition 
  • Award of Excellence: $200 Young Artist Scholarship; Silver Medal; Certificate of Excellence; Work featured in the traveling exhibition
  • Outstanding Interpretation Award: An expense-paid trip for awardee and chaperone to showcase work on stage at the National PTA Awards and Reflections Celebration; $800 Young Artist Scholarship; Gold Medal; Certificate of Outstanding Interpretation; Work featured in the traveling exhibition; $200 Prize for Local PTA Unit

2018-2019 Reflections Winners Announced!

Check out all of the 2018-2019 National PTA Reflections awardees in our official winners list below!

We look forward to celebrating our honorees at the at National PTA's Convention & Expo, June 2019.

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

  1. Interpretation: How closely the piece relates to the theme, based on the work itself and the artist statement. 
  2. Creativity: How creative and original the piece is in its conception of the theme and its presentation. 
  3. Technique: The level of skill demonstrated in the basic principles/techniques of the arts area.

Judges strongly consider the interpretation of the Reflections theme during the evaluation process. It is suggested that students give their submissions a title that stands out and describes how the piece relates to the student’s personal interpretation of the theme. The following guiding questions can be useful when developing a title and artist statement: 

  • How does your work relate to the theme?
  • What is your personal connection to the theme?
  • What did you use to create your work (e.g., supplies, technology, instrumentation, props, etc.)
  • What/who was your inspiration?

Arts Categories

Dance Choreography

Dance Choreography

Film

Film Production

Literature

Literature

Music

Music Composition

Photography

Photography

Visual Arts

Visual Arts


Congratulations 2018-2019 Winners

Congratulations to the following 2018-2019 Reflections winners on their national achievements in the arts! The traveling exhibit for the 2018-2019 program year Heroes Around Me will begin January 2020 in Washington, DC, and will conclude June 2020 in Louisville, KY.

View Winners



2017-2018 Student Exhibit

All winning works from the 2017-2018 Reflections program year were debuted January 22, 2019 at the U.S. Department of Education in Washington, DC. This student exhibit will conclude in Columbus, OH for the 2019 National PTA Convention & Expo, June 20-23, 2019.

Check out the virtual exhibit from these young artists, who responded to the theme Within Reach:


Annual Theme Search Contest 

Students can participate in the annual Theme Search Contest according to State PTA Reflections Program guidelines. Every year, one winning student's theme is selected by a team of National PTA volunteers. The winning student is awarded $100 and recognized in National PTA's awards celebration program booklet.

Look Within is the winning theme for the 2019-2020 program year, submitted by Enashele Campbell, a Kindergartner from H. Guy Child Elementary PTA in Ogden, UT! 

Congratulations to the winner of our 2020-2021 annual Theme Search Contest, Rylee Stier, a 1st Grader from Burney Elementary School in Burney, California. The 2020-2021 Reflections theme will be I Matter Because... Congratulations again to Rylee and California State PTA!

Visit your State PTA Reflections Program for see if your state is participating.

Annual Mary Lou Anderson ArtsEd Grant   

Congratulations to the 2018 Mary Lou Anderson Reflections Arts Enhancement Grantees:

  • Tiffany Park Elementary School PTA in Washington
  • Harvest Hill STEAM Academy PTA in California

The 2019 Lou Anderson Reflections Arts Enhancement Grant is open! To learn more about this opportunity, visit our ArtsEd Resources.


Proud Sponsors of National PTA’s Reflections Program

Park West Foundation