More than two dozen LWSD students earn recognition in state Reflections contest

Twenty-five students were recognized for their artwork in many categories during this year’s Washington State PTA (WSPTA) Reflections contest. Students submitted their completed works of art in one, or all, of the available arts categories: Dance Choreography, Film Production, Literature, Music Composition, Photography, Visual Arts. This year’s Reflection Finalists and the 2023 WSPTA Student Program Winners were honored virtually on April 26 and April 27. You can view recordings of both events here:

• Reflections Student Recognition Celebration 2023
• 2023 WSPTA Essay, Game Development, and Scholarship Awards Celebration

According to the WSPTA website, Reflections is a National PTA arts recognition program that helps students explore their own thoughts, feelings and ideas, develop artistic literacy, increase confidence, and find a love for learning that will help them become more successful not only in school but in life. Students in pre-K through grade 12 create original works of art in response to a theme. The theme for the 2022-2023 program this year was “Show Your Voice.” 

Below is a list of all the winners from this year’s contest. The sections in quotes indicate the title of the artwork:

WSPTA Essay Contest Winners:

• Kindergarten Division: Yashvi Srikumar – Redmond Elementary 
• First-Second Grade Division: Ananta Pulapaka – Redmond Elementary 
• Ninth-Twelfth Division: Naman Mutalik Desai – Tesla STEM High School

WSPTA Scholarship Program:

• Shivani Jayaprokasam, International Community School 
• Austin Picinich, Juanita High School

Dance Choreography:

• Award of Merit – Alexis Sevigny, Eastlake High School, “The Power from Within”

Film Production:

• Award of Excellence – Ankita Datta, Evergreen Middle School, “A Silent Soul “
• Award of Excellence – Humberto Lionel Ibarra Balderas, Mead Elementary, “SAVE THE ORCAS!” 

Literature:

• Award of Merit – Margot Kleinpeter, International Community School, “And Then There Was Me”
• Outstanding Interpretation – Aishani Kar, Timberline Middle School, “Asserting the Algorithm”
• Honorable Mention – Tvesha Joshi, Ella Baker Elementary School, “I can show my voice by”
• Honorable Mention – Keya Misar, Ella Baker Elementary School, “Luna shows her voice”

Music Composition:

• Award of Excellence – Diya Modi, Tesla STEM High School, “Mystery” 
• Honorable Mention – Aarvin Roshin, Redmond Middle School, “Renegade” 
• Honorable Mention – Miraya Vyas, Ben Franklin Elementary School, “Never Know”

Photography:

• Outstanding Interpretation – Kirill E. Kadach, Redmond Middle School, “Surfing Sound Waves” 
• Award of Merit – Himadyuthi Gowda, International Community School, “Out of darkness” 
• Outstanding Interpretation – Vilokin Singh, Rachel Carson Elementary, “Love All”
• Award of Merit – Dharanidhrut Gowda, Laura Ingalls Wilder Elementary, “School Music” 

Visual Arts

• Award of Excellence – Vivian Li, Tesla STEM High School, “Who is Crying?” 
• Award of Excellence – Marharyta Zvarydchuk, Redmond Middle School, “Voices of innocent victims from ghost city Mariupol”
• Outstanding Interpretation – Darsh Shakya, Rachel Carson Elementary, “My Solutions” 
• Award of Merit – Vaani Sharma, Redmond Elementary, “My picture is my voice” 
• Outstanding Interpretation – Megan Lambert, Lake Washington High School, “Hear me roar” 
• Award of Merit – Sarah Yi, International Community School, “Silent Waltz”