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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