The National Parent Teacher Association holds an art contest every year to recognize the talents of students across America. This year the theme is “A Different Kind of Hero” and can be represented in original literature, musical composition, photography, and visual arts. The work is sent to professionals in art, music, literature and photography to judge and the winning students can earn cash awards.

The “Reflections” program has a more than 30 year history, and past themes include “Dare to Discover,” “If I Could Give the World a Gift,” “Imagine That,” and “Exploring New Beginnings.” The themes are chosen each year form thousands of ideas submitted by students.

Each year there is an average of 600,000 participants from which 12 Awards of Excellence and 20 awards of Merit are chosen. The Award of Excellence earns the student $200 in cash and a silver medallion. The Award of Merit earns a silver medallion also. Four Outstanding Interpretation Awards are chosen form the 12 Excellence for each artistic area and these get $750 and paid trip to the National PTA convention in Columbus, Ohio.

This years winners for West Brook who will go on to the district competition are Lauren Beck for photography, Hannah Bear for visual art, Rebecca Weinman for literature, and Aaron Wong for music. The overall first place winner is Phillip Comeaux for a visual art piece.