Of 57 Westerville City School District winners who advanced to PTA’s State Reflections Competition, 14 walked away with honors and two will advance to the national contest. Earning Awards of Excellence at the State level and advancing to nationals are McVay Elementary School’s Emma Combs, Primary Division, Music Composition; and Heritage Middle School’s Lily Vennemeyer, Middle Division, Photography.
Westerville Parent Council once again hosted the 2017-2018 PTA Reflections ceremony this year, recognizing student achievement in literature, music, dance, film/video production, photography and visual arts. The theme was “Within Reach.”
Achieving State-level accolades in Dance Choreography were Lucy Biddlestone, Primary Division, Mark Twain, Award of Outstanding Achievement; Saylor Hoder, Primary Division, Early Learning Center Preschool, Honorable Mention; Emma Combs, Primary Division, McVay, Honorable Mention; and Alicia Keenan, Intermediate Division, Emerson, Award of Merit.
In the category of Film Production, Thomas Dalton, Mark Twain, earned Honorable Mention in the Intermediate Division.
In the Literature category, State accolades went to Anna McCracken, Primary Division, Hanby, Honorable Mention; Kimberlee Welch, Middle Division, Heritage Middle School, Honorable Mention; and Ella Raubenolt, Middle Division, Walnut Springs Middle School, Honorable Mention.
Music Composition honors were earned by Emma Combs, Primary Division, McVay, Award of Excellence; and Mathilda Huth, Intermediate Division, McVay, Award of Outstanding Achievement.
In the Photography category, recognition was received by Emma Combs, Primary Division, McVay, Award of Merit; Alaina McComb, Intermediate Division, Robert Frost, Honorable Mention; and Lily Vennemeyer, Middle Division, Heritage Middle School, Award of Excellence.
Diana Atieh, Heritage Middle School, earned an Award of Merit in the Visual Arts category, Middle Division.
The Westerville City Schools Board of Education will recognize these 14 students on April 9.
This year, 143 students from 12 Westerville schools participated in Reflections, with ?98 entries advancing to the district competition. From that pool, 57 district level winners were honored at a reception in January – 18 in the Primary and Special Artists divisions and 39 in the Intermediate and Middle divisions. Program chair Jill French and co-chair Valerie Cumming organized the event for Westerville Parent Council, which serves as the sponsor for Reflections at the district level.
For more information about Reflections, please visit www.westervilleparentcouncil.com.