Creativity was on full display at Oak Lawn Community High School this year, where dozens of students turned the simple but powerful theme “I Belong” into award-winning works of art.
Their efforts paid off.
A total of 37 students entered the Illinois PTA Reflections contest, a long-running national program that encourages students to express themselves through the arts. By the end of judging, 15 had advanced to the state level, four earned honorable mention recognition and three moved on even further, advancing to regional competition and a shot at national honors.
The Reflections program, now in its 55th year, invites students from prekindergarten through grade 12 to explore a wide range of artistic outlets, from photography and visual arts to music composition, literature, film production and dance choreography. Each piece is judged on how well it interprets the theme, along with creativity and technique.
At Oak Lawn, the submissions reflected a wide range of perspectives on what it means to belong, a theme that resonated with students and came through in personal, thoughtful ways across different mediums.
Students who advanced to the state competition were Peyton Marshall, Erin Sprull-Pennington, Josiah Bedolla, Zayra Bustamante, Skye Meyer, Hannah Trigg, Tahj Balock, Molly Castellano, Isabel Juarez, Emily Prado, David Sosa, Ava Urbaniec, Lilian Ibarra, Alanah Martinez and Addison Clark.
Honorable mention recognition went to Jake Herpich, Weronica Makary, Mikayla Vazquez and Nathaniel Vega.
Leading the group are Addison Clark, Peyton Marshall and Emily Prado, whose entries advanced beyond the state level. Their work will now be judged at the national level, with results expected May 1.
For school officials and supporters, the results are about more than awards. They point to a strong culture of creativity at the school and students who are willing to share their ideas and experiences through art.
As the national announcement approaches, the Oak Lawn community is watching with pride — and a sense that these students have already made their mark.