Shawnee Mission Student Artists are in the Spotlight

The Shawnee Mission Area Council PTA (SMAC PTA) hosted the annual PTA Reflections Art Contest open house.  The event recognizes and honors students across the district for their imagination, creativity, and interpretation of this year’s theme “Look Within” in the 2019-2020 National PTA Reflections program.

During the event, students and families browsed the gallery to see the exhibits of artwork, literature and photography and listen to the musical entries. The event also featured film and dance performances by student honorees in the adjacent board room.

The National PTA Reflections program encourages students of all ages and abilities to explore and be involved in the arts in an educational way. Grades Pre-K through 12 students create and submit original works of art in the medium of their choice that include dance, choreography, film production, literature, music composition, photography, and visual arts — reflecting on the specific theme. Students are recognized each year for their artistic ingenuity to bring the theme to life in a way that is personal and meaningful.

SMAC PTA received 126 entries, across K-12 schools in the Shawnee Mission School District. 

The artwork will be on display in the Center for Academic Achievement Lobby through January 13, 2020.  A ceremony and reception will be held prior to the Shawnee Mission Board of Education meeting to honor winners of the PTA Reflections Award of Excellence in January.

Following is a list of the Shawnee Mission Area Council winners, whose work given received the Award of Excellence. These entries will now compete in the Kansas State competition. 

Dance Choreography

Primary division: “Courageous and Strong” by Harlow Bivens, Pawnee Elementary

Intermediate division: “Rise Up” by Claire Martin, Corinth Elementary

Middle School division: “I Looked Within” by Molly McCracken, Indian Woods Middle School

Film Production

Intermediate division: “A Look Inside Bullying” by Ellie Burgess, Belinder Elementary

Middle School division: “Will You Be My Friend?” by Olivia Garza, Lenexa Hills Elementary

High School division: “The Notebook” by Ashleigh Neyman, Shawnee Mission West High School

Literature

Primary division: “Who I Really Am” by Emma Hobick, Westwood View Elementary

Intermediate division: “The Lost Boy’s Inner Self” by Brendan Few, Sunflower Elementary

Middle School division: “The Book That Is Me” by Lachlan Smith, Westridge Middle School

High School division: “Case Study in the Scientific Phenomena of Patient 8” by Emmett Liljegren, Shawnee Mission East High School

Music Composition

Primary division: “Struggling Within Me” by Jiya Bhavsar, Briarwood Elementary

Intermediate division: “Wonderful Dream” by Reagan Schneider, Highlands Elementary

Middle School division: “Finding” by Ishya Bhavsar, Indian Hills Middle School

High School division: “The Sadness In This Moment” by Andrew Schnake, Shawnee Mission West High School

Photography

Primary division: “What Is Inside Matters” by Katie Barnes, Christa McAuliffe Elementary

Intermediate division: “Buried To Life” by Delani Luttrell, Mill Creek Elementary

Middle School division: “M4” by Oliver Whitman, Trailwood Elementary

High School division: “A Step Inside” by Nia Duvall, Shawnee Mission North High School

Visual Art

Primary division: “Clinch and Baby Find the Star” by Nixon Katzenmeier, Trailwood Elementary

Intermediate division: “Deep as the Ocean” by Ari Conner, Lenexa Hills Elementary

Middle School division: “Looking Out” by Nicole Kahn, Indian Hills Middle School

High School division: “Globe Phobia” by Alyvia Downey, Shawnee Mission North High School