The creative achievement of learners is true cause for celebration; its value touches the future in lasting and empowering ways. In recognition and honor of imaginative success, the National PTA® and the U.S. Department of Education will host a ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday, January 13th celebrating the opening of an arts exhibit featuring award-winning artwork from students nationwide. The ceremony commences at noon at the Department’s headquarters (LBJ Education Building) in Washington, D.C.
National recognition
The 2010-2011 Reflections Program has the evocative theme, “Together we can.” The special exhibit selected from that inspirational program celebrates both the National PTA’s Reflections Program and its long-standing commitment to provide opportunities for children to receive recognition for their artistic ingenuity. The exhibit will be on display for public viewing through March 7, 2012.
Vital role of the arts in learning
Betsy Landers, National PTA President, indicates, “We commend the U.S. Department of Education for recognizing students’ artistic achievements at a national level. As we see more schools continue to cut funding for the arts, it is important that we remind schools and families how the arts help children develop valuable learning tools that are essential to their education. That’s why National PTA’s Reflections Program continues to encourage children to tap into their imaginations by creatively expressing themselves through the arts.”
USDOE, National PTA, and NEA support
The event marks the first time the U.S. Department of Education, National PTA, and the National Endowment for the Arts all demonstrate national support for PTA’s Reflections Program. Dozens of arts education advocates and leaders from across the country will attend. Notable speakers include
- Arne Duncan, U.S. Secretary of Education, Department of Education;
- Otha Thornton, President-Elect, National PTA;
- Deba Leach, Arts Education Counselor to the Senior Deputy Chairman, National Endowment for the Arts;
- Sunil Iyengar, Director, Research & Analysis, National Endowment for the Arts.
Special performances
The ceremony will also feature special performances by student award winners and distinguished artists, including:
- Dancers from CityDance Conservatory
- Singers and instrumentalists from Young Artists of America
- An eight-piece string orchestra from Cabin John Middle School
National PTA Reflections Award Recipients Exhibiting at U.S. Department of Education
The creative work of student exhibitors displays insight and inspiration delving into themes that touch on powerful, archetypal topics such as peace, generations, change, diversity, bullying, hope, and homelessness. Their work fully reflects Albert Einstein’s insight that “The pursuit of truth and beauty is a sphere of activity in which we are permitted to remain children all our lives.”
The creative achievement of National PTA Reflections Award recipients on display is the work of the following extraordinary student artists:
- Hansub Kim in Visual Arts, “Together We Can Create Peace Through Music,” Wonderland Avenue PTA, Los Angeles, California
- Kaitlyn Larkin in Photography, Novato High School PTSA, Novato, California
- Austin Carlston in Photography, “Together We Can Climb to New Heights,” Dennison Elementary PTA, Morrison, Colorado
- Quinn Howard in Photography, “Together We Can Feed the World,” Safety Harbor Elementary School PTA, Clearwater, Florida
- Kari-Ann Lee in Photography, “Generation Builder,” Lake Mary High School PTSA, Lake Mary, Florida
- Jessica Hubbard in Photography, “Many Hands, One World,” Lutz Elementary PTA, Lutz, Florida
- Anli Chen in Visual Arts, Southwest Middle School PTSA, Orlando, Florida
- Natalie Tindall in Photography, Jane Macon Middle School PTSA, Brunswick, Georgia
- Brian Koh in Visual Arts, “Together we can build a better world,” SKA Academy PTSA, Duluth Georgia
- Kaitlyn Jackman in Photography, “The Huddle,” Monticello Trails Middle School PTA, Shawnee, Kansas
- Jacob Ranzau in Photography, “Getting Up the Mountain,” West Elementary PTA, Wichita, Kansas
- Caroline Manning in Visual Arts, “Together We Can Do Anything,” Caddo Middle Magnet PTSA, Shreveport, Louisiana
- Bridgette Wheeler in Visual Arts, “Together We Can Reach a Higher Education,” Urbana Elementary School PTA, Fredrick, Maryland
- Helen Gao in Visual Arts, “Together, we can fly like the release of a helium balloon,” Hopkinton PTA, Hopkinton, Massachusetts
- Isabella Fisher in Photograph, “Detroit's Homeless,” Charles A. Lindbergh Elementary PTA, Dearborn, Michigan
- Jarod Hennessy in Photography, “Together We Can Make It to the Top,” Winona Senior High PTSA, Winona, Minnesota
- Allie Stift in Photography, “Spirits Soar,” North Salem PTA, Salem, New Hampshire
- Zoe Hughes in Visual Arts, “Together We Can Make Tomorrow A Better Place,” Hubert Humphrey Elementary PTSA, Albuquerque, New Mexico
- Esther Ahn in Visual Arts, “Together We Can Recycle and Save the Earth,” Robbins Lane PTA, Syosset, New York
- Ewan Ross in Visual Arts, “Together We Can Have Peace,” West Lake Elementary PTA Apex, North Carolina
- Elizabeth Chan in Photography, “Together We Can Stop Bullying,” Holly Springs Elementary PTA, Holly Springs, North Carolina
- Eun Hye (Grace) Kim in Visual Arts, “A New World,” Mint Hill Middle PTSA, Matthews, North Carolina
- Justin Jed Zumel in Visual Arts, “Heal the World,” West Brook High School PTA, Beaumont, Texas
- Patrick Park in Visual Arts, “The Earth Help,” Las Colinas Elementary PTA, Irving, Texas
- Avery Dahl in Photography, “Out for a Spin,” Kent Gardens Elementary School PTA, Falls Church, Virginia
- Ivy Ni in Visual Arts, “Together we can build a better world,” Langley High School PTSA, Great Falls, Virginia
Empowering the future
Creativity is powerful and important. Its expressions require intelligence, courage, and insight, and its empowerment in children is vital, for as John F. Kennedy expressed, “Children are the world’s most valuable resource and its best hope for the future.”
To visit this award-winning student exhibit at the U.S. Department of Education, contact Nicole Carinci at 202-453-5585 or at nicole.carinci@ed.gov.
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