Students reflect on their creativity





ARTISTIC LEANING—Students at Agoura captured several awards in the Reflections art contest. Front row, from left: Max Diamond, Grant Klass and Wyatt Jackson. Back row: Jenna Siteman and Goldie Kline.

ARTISTIC LEANING—Students at Agoura captured several awards in the Reflections art contest. Front row, from left: Max Diamond, Grant Klass and Wyatt Jackson. Back row: Jenna Siteman and Goldie Kline.

The spotlight is shining this year on student creativity, especially locally. PTA Reflections is a nationally acclaimed student recognition program that encourages creativity in many forms.

In the 12th District PTA— comprising schools in Ventura County, including Oak Park, Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park, Simi Valley, Moorpark and Camarillo— hundreds of entries were received this year and scores of students were honored for the work they created under the theme, “What is Your Story?”

Although Agoura High School is in Los Angeles County, the school entered in the program through the 12th District PTA.

Students the visual arts, literature, dance, film, photography, and musical composition areas in elementary, middle and high school divisions.

According to Laura Leininger, Agoura High’s Arts PTSA chair, students at Agoura High broke a record with four students advancing to the state finals.

Three of the four students who claimed Awards of Excellence were categorized as Special Artists. The Special Artist category is open to students with disabilities at the contest’s local and state levels.

Wyatt Jackson, AHS ninth-grader who claimed the Award of Excellence for his acrylic on cardboard painting, named his piece “The Colors of My Mind.”

“I have been painting since I was a year old,” Wyatt said on his artist statement, “I love to use acrylic paint on recycled cartons to make my art. My mom told me I am an eco-artist, and I call my art WyART.”

Next year’s theme, Leininger said, is “Within Reach.”

The following high school students were recognized for their work Jan. 9 at the Ventura County Office of Education. All Award of Excellence winners will advance to the state level.

Agoura High

Cecilia Bellissimo, ninth grade, Award of Excellence, Musical Composition

Maxwell Diamond, 10th grade, Excellence, Special Artist/ Literature

Grant Klass, 11th grade, Excellence, Special Artist/Photography

Wyatt Jackson, ninth grade, Excellence, Special Artist/Visual Arts

Goldie Kline, 10th grade, Award of Merit, Dance

Amadeo Trevino Angelone, 11th grade, Merit, Visual Arts

Jenna Siteman, 11th grade, Merit, Visual Arts

Westlake High

Juliet Balkian, 11th grade, Honorable Mention, Literature

Lily Ross, ninth grade, Honorable Mention, Musical Composition

Taylor Bolger, 10th grade, Merit, Dance

Ruby Liu, 12th grade, Merit, Visual Arts

Alyssa Bai, 11th grade, Honorable Mention, Film

Thousand Oaks High

Erin Haar, 12th grade, Excellence, Photography

Avalon Nathan, ninth grade, Excellence, Special Artist/Film

Shanti Cuizon Burden, 12th grade, Merit, Photography

Blake Saari, 11th grade, Merit, Film

Moorpark High

Jesse Lam, 12th grade, Excellence, Literature

Liliana Martinez, 12th grade, Honorable Mention, Photography

Carolyn Flitsch, 11th grade, Honorable Mention, Photography

Adolfo Camarillo High

Dokyung Lim, 11th grade, Honorable Mention, Visual Arts

Mattea Pulido, 12th grade, Honorable Mention, Literature

Rancho Campana High

Asha Nahas, 11th grade, Excellence, Film

Audrey Meador, ninth grade, Excellence, Visual Arts

Taryn Lui, 10th grade, Honorable Mention, Film

Karlyn Hartman, 10th grade, Merit, Musical Composition

Royal High

Siena Fletcher, 11th grade, Honorable Mention, Musical Compostion

Santa Susana High

Samantha Longtin, 12th grade, Honorable Mention, Dance

Aissa Carnet, 12th grade, Merit, Film

Alexandra Nicholas, 12th grade, Merit, Musical Composition

Simi Valley High

Jessica Anderson, 10th grade, Honorable Mention, Dance

Isabelle Handberg, 12th grade, Merit, Photography


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