Parents and students from all six Mercer Island schools, as well as local private schools, gathered together at the Mercer Island High School Performing Arts Center on Feb. 5 to honor the winners of the 2017/2018 PTA Reflections Art Competition. The competition is organized and sponsored by the Island Middle School PTSA and the Mercer Island PTA Council.
More than 250 people attended the ceremony, and Superintendent Donna Colosky gave a speech about the importance of creativity in the curriculum, and its positive role in mental and physical health in people of all ages.
A panel of judges judged almost 340 student entries across six different genres including visual arts, dance choreography, film production, literature, photography and music composition. Reflections offers students the opportunity to create original works of art in the six genres. The theme for this year was “Within Reach.”
The following Reflections chairs collected entries, organized the art work, publicized the competition and are assisting with the evening: Jocelyn Barber, Sharon Brown, Bao-Tran Nguyen, Rosa Teorell, Nicole Cui, Erin Vivion, Lori Hamiwka and Joci Besecker. Laura Totten, CCR Photography and Yearbook teacher at Mercer Island High School, also helped publicize the competition at the high school.
Look out for students’ exhibitions and art workshops at Mercer Island venues throughout the coming year.
Congratulations to all the students who entered, and especially to the following who won their respective divisions and whose entries were forwarded to the Reflections State competition:
High school
Sarah Wang — Visual Arts, “Leap”
Hunter Yetman — Photography, “Lost Within Dreams”
Sarah Wang — Music Composition, “Warrior”
Lauren Pirak — Dance Choreography, “Unafraid to Rise Up”
Cordelia Longo — Literature, “The Swallows”
Ariella Nelson — Film Production, “Reaching for Health”
Middle school
Kelly Kim — Visual Art, “Friendship”
Ella Marie Schaps — Photography, “Bathtime”
Sacha Nelson — Film Production, “Ski to the Heights”
Subha Vadlamannati — Literature, “Four Seasons”
Helin Wang – Music Composition, “Diamond Sky”
Grade 3-5 Divison
Adelaide Swenson — Visual Arts, “The earth hugger”
Bronwyn Orr-Bement – Music Composition, “Within Reach”
Ashwin Krishnaswamy — Literature, “Looking at Hard Work”
Karenna Stone – Photography, “Blossom Belief”
Sophie Chou – Dance Choreography, “Dancing Dream”
Sophia Loiselle – Film Production , “The Last Polar Bear”
K-Grade 2 Divison
Audrey Cui – Visual Arts, “Hand in Hand”
Adrian Chan – Literature, “The Story of Captain John”
Nemo Li – Photography, “Red Leaves”
Keith Chung – Music Composition, “Sorry Night Witch Watch Out”
Audrey Cui – Film Production, “There Are Always Friends Around You”
Fiona Stone – Dance Choreography, “Star Spangled Ballet”
The Reflections competition awards ceremony on Feb. 5 was a huge success, with over 250 people attending. Photo courtesy of Sharon Brown
Student art was displayed in the Mercer Island High School PAC on Feb. 5. Photo courtesy of Sharon Brown
