Budding artists among us Budding artists among us (December 30, 2005)

PTA Reflections contest highlights students' artistic talents
by Rebecca Guyon

Thirteen students from across the district were recognized for their skills in photography, literature, visual arts and musical composition when they were named the winners of the Parent Teacher Association Council's Reflections contest. The winners, along with the 38 other students who advanced to the district level judging, were honored at an awards ceremony earlier this month.

"I entered the contest because I have a special talent in drawing and thought I shouldn't let it go to waste," said Jennifer Tao, 9, whose drawing "I Wonder Why the Night is so Beautiful" won the visual arts category for her age group. Jennifer also won the Reflections contest for the district last year with her drawing of Mother Teresa. "I was really excited when I won this year because last year I went to the state level and lost," she said. "I thought this year, if I won, maybe I'll go to a higher level."

Three hundred fifty-one students from eight schools entered the contest, sending in art work based on the theme "I Wonder Why?" Winners were chosen for their artistic skill and how well they interpreted the theme, said Nancy Krakauer, Reflections chair for the PTA Council.

Within each artistic category, students are divided into four other categories based on grade level. Students preschool to second grade are in the "primary" level, grades third to fifth are "intermediate," sixth to eighth are "middle" and ninth to 12th are "senior." The top winner in each category and age group was first chosen at the individual school sites and those students advanced to the district judging. At the district level, judges from the community chose the final winners, including the editorial staff of The Pleasanton Weekly who judged the photography and the visual art categories. Michelle Hatch, a music teacher at Fairlands Elementary School and Southgate Elementary School in Hayward, and Terry Messick, a former keyboard music teacher and pianist, judged music composition and Catherine Needham, a freelance writer, judged the literature entries.

"I was very honored, and a bit surprised when I found out I won," said Lauren Johnson, 17, whose poem "Why Does the Rain?" won in the literature category. Johnson is an avid writer and her mom suggested she enter the contest. "I had a poem I'd been working on that fit the theme, so I edited it a little and sent it in," she said. Writing is a passion for Johnson and she plans to study writing in college next year.

The Pleasanton district winners will now go on to compete at the Peralta District level against students from other Alameda County schools. Winners from that round will then compete at the state level. Last year, Megan Tien of Mohr Elementary School received an Award of Merit at the State PTA Convention in the visual arts category for her drawing called "A Different Kind of Hero," which depicted her school's crossing guard.

The Pleasanton PTA Council has organized the contest for the past three years, but many Pleasanton schools took part in it prior to the formation of the council, Krakauer said. The state PTA has held the contest since 1969 and nearly 10 million students have participated in the program aimed at encouraging student interest in the arts.
Reflections Council Winners

Photography

* Marianne Wilson, primary, Fairlands

* Danny Oh, intermediate, Mohr

* Kristin Hong, senior, Amador Literature

* Jenna Crawford, primary, Vintage Hills

* Dharini Clare, intermediate, Vintage Hills

* Lauren Johnson, senior, Amador Visual Arts

* Bryan Park, primary, Mohr

* Jennifer Tao, intermediate, Mohr

* Siddarth Somanathan, senior, Amador Musical composition

* Katie Lin, primary, Vintage Hills

* Eric Butler, intermediate, Alisal

* Trevor Bielby, middle, Harvest Park

* Max Loh, senior, Amador

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