Monterey Elementary School first grader Samantha DeCastro has been named a National PTA Reflections Art Show winner for the 2023-2024 school year. DeCastro was one of only seven students in the State of Ohio to take home the prestigious national honors and of those seven she was one of only two to receive their highest mark of excellence.
Each year, PTA organizations and schools team-up to host a Reflections Art Show across the country. Following that art show, winning art submissions then go on to each state’s PTA governing body for judging.
At the local level within the South-Western City School District, the SWCS Council of PTA’s held its annual Reflections Art Show on December 5, 2023 at the South-Western Career Academy (SWCA) and recognized district award winners on March 19, 2024. This year’s theme for the event was “I am hopeful because…” calling on young artists to draw, perform, sing, or create pieces of art that reflect both optimism and gratitude in pursuing their dreams.
Following extensive state judging, DeCastro was named one of 31 SWCSD students who took home Ohio PTA Reflections Award honors in late April. Her success would ultimately culminate with the recent announcement that her submission would take home recognition as a National PTA Reflections Award winner for 2023-2024.
For more information on the PTA Reflections Program, please visit the link (click here).
An Award Winning Irish Dance Performance
DeCastro’s award winning submission came through the Dance Choreography category where each submission was judged not only by its categorical value, but was also judged by the student’s supplementary artist statement. Accompanying her award winning Irish Dance was her artist statement that read as follows: “I am hopeful because I want other people to learn about different cultures and countries. I love doing Irish Dance and learning about the world.”
DeCastro first started Irish performative dance at the age of four leading up to her preparation for this year’s Reflections Award submission. In addition to the national acclaim, she will also receive a $200 Young Artist Scholarship, a silver medallion, and an Award of Excellence certificate.
Congratulations to Samantha for her outstanding honors and we would like to thank the SWCS Council of PTA’s for their efforts in highlighting our student artists each year through this annual PTA Reflections Art Show.
SW Insider 