Reflections is an annual national program sponsored by the PTA that provides opportunities for recognition and access to the arts, and this year, there are 23 CCUSD students being honored with awards.
Each year, 300,000+ students in Pre-K through grade 12 create original works of art in response to a student-selected theme. This 50+ year-old program helps them explore their own thoughts, feelings and ideas, develop artistic literacy and increase confidence. Entries are first judged by individual school sites, then advanced to council level, then advanced to district, state and on to the national PTA competition.
“It’s OK to not be perfect
It’s OK to not be the same
Everyone makes mistakes
Everyone has their own way
Jumping jacks and cartwheels
Those are some things we all can’t do
It’s alright to be afraid
You are you
And that’s all you can be
Nothing is perfect
Nothing can be
Be happy with who you are
You are you
And that’s all that matters.”
This winning poem from Linwood E. Howe third grader, Maya Shankla, is a true encapsulation of the this year’s PTA Reflections Art theme “Accepting Imperfection.”
Twenty-three CCUSD students, including Maya, will receive awards for their artwork in the 2024-2025 council-level art competition and will be recognized during a School Board meeting in the new year. All Award of Excellence winners – as well as all middle and high school participants – will go on to represent Culver City in the 33rd District Reflections competition.
Congratulations to the following CCUSD students
Visual Art
LOGAN MATTINGLY – Grade 1, El Rincon (Award of Excellence, Primary)
RIVER MARQUEZ – Grade 5, El Rincon (Award of Excellence, Intermediate)
ARYA RATH – Grade 6, CCMS (Award of Excellence, Middle School)
CHLOE BOEDICKER – Grade 1, Farragut (Award of Merit, Primary)
RUBY SMITH – Grade 3, Linwood E. Howe (Award of Merit, Intermediate)
AYLA GARCIA – Grade 2, La Ballona (Honorable Mention, Primary)
THEO EILBECK – Grade 3, La Ballona (Honorable Mention, Intermediate)
KATHERINE MARTINEZ – Pre-K, Linwood E. Howe (Participation, Primary)
Literature
MAYA SHANKLA – Grade 3, Linwood E. Howe (Award of Excellence, Primary)
ARYA RATH – Grade 6, CCMS (Award of Excellence, Middle School)
BODIE JENKINS – Grade 10, CCHS (Award of Excellence, High School)
PAULINE ANDREA WONG RICHARDSON – Grade 4, El Rincon (Award of Merit, Primary)
LUCILLE ROARK – Grade 6, CCMS (Award of Merit, Middle School)
Music Competition
VICKIE NITTROUER-ROSENBLAT – Grade 2, Linwood E. Howe (Award of Excellence, Primary)
MYLES BENYACAR – Grade 5, Linwood E. Howe (Award of Excellence, Intermediate)
WILLIAM LIEBL – Grade 6, CCMS (Award of Excellence, Middle School)
ALLISON LIEBL – Grade 12, CCHS (Award of Excellence, High School)
AVA ESLAMIMEHR – Grade 4, Farragut (Award of Merit, Intermediate)
Dance Choregraphy
BELLA CAMPOS – Grade 5, El Rincon (Award of Excellence, Intermediate)
Photography
RAVI SHANKLA – Grade 5, Linwood E. Howe (Award of Excellence, Intermediate)
ISLA KEOUGH – Grade 11, CCHS (Award of Excellence, High School)
Film Production
ELODIE LARSON – Grade 5, Linwood E. Howe (Award of Excellence, Intermediate)
ANNABELLE ANDREONE – Grade 11, CCHS (Award of Excellence, High School)
And a special thanks to all the unit coordinators who ran the programs at the school sites: Cesili Williams (El Rincon,) Rituparna Roy (Farragut,) Megan Crawley (La Ballona,) Parrish Walsh (Lin Howe,) Rhoda Santos (CCMS) and Attelia Scott (CCHS)
Students submit original artwork inspired by the theme, in any of the following six categories: Dance Choreography, Film Production, Literature, Photography, Music Composition and Visual Art. The Culver City Council PTA, which runs the local competition, received a range of entries from TK-High School in all artistic mediums. All judging was based on the numerical scoring system set forth by the national PTA for the following criteria: Interpretation of Theme (40 pts), Creativity (30 pts), Technique (30 pts).
Culver Pride
