Student Talent Recognized with Reflection Awards

A group of students from Corona del Mar were recently recognized for expressing themselves through the arts. 

The students from Corona del Mar middle and high schools submitted projects to the national PTA-sponsored Reflections Program, which aims to give students in grades seventh through 12th an opportunity to showcase their talents and express themselves in creative ways.

Julie Lobel, chair of the CDM Reflections Program, said the contest also seeks to remind the community how importance the arts are in education.

"CDM received first place in every category in high school that was entered," she said. "We also took first and second place in middle school art and music. Pretty impressive, considering the info went out very late this year."

The program has various levels of competitions. The students first compete within their schools, then can advance to district, county and national competitions.

"CDM got first place in every category at the district level that they entered in the high school division," Lobel explained. "They moved up to county, but the results are not in yet."

The nationwide program receives submissions from the six arts areas of dance choreography, film production, literature, musical composition, photography and visual arts and is divided into four grade divisions.

Here is a complete list of winners from CDM: 

High school: first place 

• Art- Natalya Buchwald
• Photography - Amanda Yelich
• Literature - Rachel Rosenblum
• Music - Christian Freire
• Film - Shelby Guaiter

Middle-school winners:

• Music - Anthony Castagna, first place
• Art - Jacob Lobel, second place

For more information on the Reflections Program visit ptareflections.org/cs/about_reflections.