SAN DIMAS – Bonita Unified students wowed parents and staff with colorful artwork depicting inspirational figures: an orange cat that sees a ferocious lion in its reflection; a pair of firefighters battling an intense blaze; mom and dad dressed up as superheroes.

The art pieces were among about a score on display at the Bonita Unified District Awards Ceremony, held Oct. 17 at the Bonita Center for the Arts at San Dimas High School. The ceremony celebrated student artists and their interpretations of the 2018-19 National PTA Reflections Art Program theme “Heroes Around Me.”

“I saw a need for the students’ creative efforts to be exhibited and recognized, not only to their parents and families but also to our Board of Education members, who are attending the ceremony tonight,” Reflections Art Chair Dr. Lisa Richey said. “It’s just a great way to bring awareness to our District and show what our students are achieving.”

For over 50 years, the National PTA’s Reflections Art Program has provided public school students with the opportunity to submit original works of art in six categories: dance choreography, film, literature, music, photography and visual arts.

“We are fortunate to have teachers with the heart, passion and dedication to provide our students with an outstanding arts education,” Bonita Unified Superintendent Carl J. Coles said. “These works are an extraordinary illustration of what happens when students are given the power to express themselves.”

Bonita Unified’s Award of Excellence winners will advance to the PTA’s First District Competition in November. From there, student winners will advance to regional, state and national contests.

Rakshitha Akkala, a sixth-grader at Ramona Middle School, won Award of Excellences in literature, music and photography.
Akkala submitted a creative essay titled “My Imagination,” a piano piece titled “Heroes Around Me,” and a photo titled “Babies are Heroes,” which shows a pair of infants playing in a field.

“I think the hardest part of taking my photo was trying to get the babies to hold still,” Akkala said. “I chose babies because they are just happy with what they have and they are inspiring and hopeful.”

The ceremony featured Principal Ji Wang as the MC, as well as musical performances by Ramona Middle School’s Troubadour choir and the San Dimas High School Jazz Band.

Dance
Intermediate
Amelie Bjork, Award of Excellence

Film
Intermediate
Sarah Richey, Award of Merit
Morgan Block, Award of Excellence

Literature
Primary
Adrian Guzman, Award of Merit
Landon Liu, Award of Excellence

Intermediate
Jenna Khan, Award of Merit
Sarah Richey, Award of Excellence

Middle School
Nadia Cole-Gutie’rrez, Award of Merit
Sarah Kumar, Award of Merit
Rakshitha Akkala, Award of Excellence

High School
Anthony Boissiere, Award of Merit
Anjalene Frank, Award of Excellence

Music
Primary
Joshua Smith, Award of Excellence

Intermediate
Gabby Nava, Award of Merit
Bella Villaluna, Award of Excellence

Middle School
Rakshitha Akkala, Award of Excellence

High School
Louis Sun, Award of Excellence

Photography
Primary
Christian Wytt, Award of Merit
Lily Anna Orcett, Award of Excellence

Intermediate
Reese Marquez, Award of Merit
Rebecca Killackey, Award of Excellence

Middle School
Kaylee Leung, Award of Merit
Rakshitha Akkala, Award of Excellence

High School
Jaidan Woo, Award of Excellence
Special Artist
Sage Segovia, Award of Excellence

Visual Arts
Primary
Kylie Moffitt, Award of Merit
David Scarborough, Award of Excellence

Intermediate
Rebecca Killackey, Award of Merit
Clair Kim, Award of Excellence

Middle School
Sarah Kumar, Award of Merit
Audrey Granger, Award of Excellence

PHOTO

BONITA_REFLECTIONS: Bonita Unified’s PTA Reflections Award of Excellence winners are recognized by parents and staff at the Bonita Unified District Awards Ceremony on Oct. 17.