Fifteen Westerville City Schools students earned honors at the Ohio PTA State Reflections Competition, and five who received Awards of Excellence will advance to the national contest. Results were announced by Westerville Parent Council, which hosted the 2015-2016 challenge in the Westerville district. Students submit original work in literature, music, dance, film/video production, photography and visual arts. This year’s theme was “Let Your Imagination Fly.” Volunteer Lisa Wood organized the event, along with co-chairs Jill French and Sarah Strauss.
This year, 355 students from 15 Westerville schools participated, with 169 entries advancing to the district competition. From that pool, 79 district level winners were honored – 27 from the primary division (grades K-2); 32 from the intermediate division (grades 3-5); and 20 from the middle division (grades 6-8). Fifty-seven district winners advances to the State competition. State results follow:
Dance Choreography
- Arisa Francis – Primary, Mark Twain, Honorable Mention
- Alicia Keenan – Primary, Hanby, Honorable Mention
- Anila Palmer – Intermediate, Mark Twain, Award of Excellence*
- Elizabeth Bridge – Intermediate, Robert Frost, Honorable Mention
Film Production
- Avamarie Hedrick – Primary, Emerson, Award of Outstanding Achievement
- Ambar Loya Sotomayor – Primary, Hanby, Award of Merit
- James Scarbrough – Primary, Mark Twain, Honorable Mention
- Alexandre Hedrick – Intermediate, Emerson, Award of Excellence*
Literature
- Alexis Ross – Primary, Alcott, Honorable Mention
- Jenna Benedict – Intermediate, Alcott, Honorable Mention
Music Composition
- Addie Gurgiolo – Primary, Hanby, Award of Excellence*
- Bennett Keyser – Intermediate, Emerson, Award of Excellence*
Photography
- Lily Vennemeyer – Intermediate, Robert Frost, Award of Excellence*
Visual Arts
- Rohan Mawalker – Intermediate, Emerson, Award of Merit
- Alicia Deng – Intermediate, Emerson, Honorable Mention
(* advancing to national competition)
All 15 pupils will be recognized by the Board of Education on Monday, April 11.