PTA Art Entries Capture Awards
in State 'Reflections' Competition

April 9, 2009

Plano students recently captured 34 awards from the Texas PTA for their entries in the 2009 PTA Reflections art contest. Among the honorees is Michelle Cepelak, a senior at Plano West Senior High School, whose visual arts entry has continued on to National PTA for judging.

Student awards are posted on the Texas PTAwebsite (select the "Reflections" graphic link in the left column).

The PTA-sponsored "Reflections" program enhances the
schools' art education, allowing students to pursue art expression by completing projects in the areas of dance choreography, film production, literature, musical composition, photography, and the visual arts (drawing, painting, collage and print making).

According to Jan Barber, Plano ISD Council of PTAs Arts in Education chair, 55 Plano schools participated in the 2009 Reflections program, submitting approximately 2,500 entries. Of those entries, the top 20 percent (515 entries) advanced to the Plano ISD Council of PTAs level for judging, where 85 received Awards of Excellence, 116 received Awards of Merit and 72 received Honorable Mentions. A complete list of Council awards is posted on the Plano PTA website.

The district top 10 percent of entries (54) headed to Austin for state judging in late January/early February. Of the 54 entries, 34 were awarded. Plano ISD students received 10 Awards of Excellence, 9 Awards of Merit and 15 Honorable Mentions. Seven additional entries will appear in exhibits in Austin at the Texas Commission on the Arts and the Texas Education Agency.

Plano ISD Council of PTAs hosted the 2008-2009 Reflections
Awards presentation on April 1 at Sockwell Center. Pictured are (l-r) Angela Miner; Cara Mendelsohn, Council president, Cindy Watts; Sharon
Goldblatt, 1st Vice President Texas PTA; Jan Barber, Council Arts in
Education Chair; Sue Story; and Tamra Sadafsaz.

Plano ISD Council of PTAs award recipients and their families attended the Council awards presentation on April 1 at the Sockwell Center. Council President Cara Mendelsohn and First Vice President of Texas PTA Sharon Goldblatt presented the ribbons to the students. Mary Beth King, Plano ISD Board of Trustees, also attended.

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Student Heather Tsong's entry "Alaska Fortune" received a Plano ISD PTA Reflections Award of Excellence.