Unleash Your Creativity and Discover Your Place with PTA Reflections!
For over five decades, the PTA Reflections Program has been a cornerstone of arts education, igniting the creative spark of millions of students nationwide. This remarkable program, designed to enhance rather than replace quality arts education, provides a platform for students of all ages and abilities to explore their inner worlds and express themselves through various art forms.
California State PTA is proud to support the Reflections Program, which encourages students to unleash their creative talents, express themselves imaginatively, and experience the joy of making art. By tapping into critical thinking skills and responding to a chosen theme, students create original works in Dance Choreography, Literature, Photography, Film Production, Music Composition, and Visual Arts.
The Reflections Program is thrilled to announce its inspiring new theme for the 2025-2026 school year: “I Belong.” This powerful theme invites students to delve into their sense of self, community, and connection. It encourages them to explore what it means to find their place in the world and to understand how they relate to others. Through their artwork, students can reflect on the people, places, and ideas that shape their identity and foster a feeling of belonging.
Participation in Reflections is an enriching journey with opportunities for recognition at every level. Entries are initially submitted to school-level PTA units, where they are celebrated and judged. Entries chosen to move forward will then advance through local PTA councils and districts for further consideration. The final entries submitted to California State PTA are considered for Outstanding Interpretation, Awards of Excellence (1st Place), or Awards of Merit (2nd Place).
Students who receive the Outstanding Interpretation honor are recognized for their truly exceptional and unique expression of the theme. They were invited to the California State PTA Convention, where their entries were also displayed. Award of Excellence entries, representing first place in each category and division, are also showcased at the state convention and then proceed to the National PTA for judging. Award of Merit entries, the second-place winners, are also displayed at the California State PTA Convention.
The Reflections Program is inclusive. It offers the Accessible Arts division modified rules and guidelines to ensure that all students, including those with disabilities, have the opportunity to participate and be recognized for their creative efforts.
We also want to congratulate all of the National PTA Award Recipients that were announced by National PTA on May 1st. National PTA’s May 1, 2025 Press Release.
| Student Name | Award Level | Division | Category | Title of Art | PTA/PTSA School |
| Isabella Juarez-Padilla | Outstanding Interpretation | Accessible Arts (all grades) | Visual Arts | Unapologetically Imperfect | Corona del Mar High School PTA |
| Rowan Zollars | Outstanding Interpretation | Middle School (grades 6-8) | Dance Choreography | What is it to be Perfect? | Sycamore Canyon School PTSA |
| Abigail Hong | Award of Excellence | Middle School (grades 6-8) | Visual Arts | The Evolution of Imperfection | Oxford Academy PTSA |
| Katelyn Gooneratne | Award of Merit | High School (grades 9-12) | Photography | Where Imperfection Finds Grace | Canyon High School PTSA |
| Avni Anand | Award of Merit | Middle School (grades 6-8) | Literature | Janaki and the Fairy of Imperfection | Bowditch Middle School PTSA |
| Mariah Moreno | Award of Excellence | High School (grades 9-12) | Film Production | She Would Never Understand | Santiago High School PTSA |
| Chloe Dimitrakopoulos | Award of Merit | Primary (pre-K through grade 2) | Dance Choreography | Dancing Through the Imperfections | Brookside Elementary School PTA |
| Megan Park | Award of Excellence | High School (grades 9-12) | Dance Choreography | Hands to Heart | Valencia High School PTSA |
| Margaret Allgood Wurfel | Award of Excellence | Intermediate (grades 3-5) | Film Production | Kalaver, the Tripod Cat. | Meadows Elementary School PTSA |
| Nikolaos Ward | Award of Merit | Accessible Arts (all grades) | Film Production | Niko’s Perfectly Imperfect Life | La Veta Elementary School PTA |
| Mei Watanabe | Award of Excellence | Primary (pre-K through grade 2) | Literature | How Sweetie Was Made Perfect | Fletcher Elementary School PTSA |
| Ethan Jones | Award of Excellence | Accessible Arts (all grades) | Music Composition | Wonderfully Imperfect (Mega Orchestra) | Travis Ranch PTA |
| Lily Giaudrone | Award of Merit | Primary (pre-K through grade 2) | Photography | The Beaded Spiderweb | Tulita Elementary School PTA |
| Liam Park | Award of Merit | Intermediate (grades 3-5) | Visual Arts | Never Perfect | Paradise Canyon Elementary School PTA |
| Valen Aznavourian | Award of Merit | High School (grades 9-12) | Visual Arts | Mirror of Emotions | Crescenta Valley High School PTSA |
The success of Reflections underscores the vital role of PTA in fostering arts education and providing platforms for student expression. By encouraging participation, PTAs across California contribute to a greater community appreciation for the importance of the arts in education.
For those eager to participate in the upcoming Reflections program with the new theme “I Belong,” visit our website, which provides general information about the Reflections program as well as specific guidelines, rules, and resources for the “I Belong” theme, including the new program logo.
Let the Reflections Art Program and the arts be integral in your students’ lives. Encourage them to explore the theme “I Belong,” unleash their creativity, and experience the joy of artistic expression!