LAHAINA — Lahaina Cannery Mall will host the Maui Regional PTA Reflections awards ceremony on center stage Sunday, Jan. 2, at 4 p.m.

Over 342 students participated in the National PTA creative arts recognition program from eight schools island-wide, including Haiku Elementary, King Kamehameha III Elementary, Lihikai Elementary, Pomaika’i Elementary, Pukalani Elementary, Lahaina Intermediate School, King Kekaulike and Lahainaluna High School.

Entries were received in the visual arts, photography, literature, film, music composition and dance choreography divisions, inspired by the 2010-11 theme, “Together We Can.”

Elizabeth Sager, the Hawaii State PTSA Maui Region director, described the importance of the theme this year.

“I think it is a great theme. It is amazing how the children all interpret it so differently. Some students focus on the family unit level, while others use the theme to come up with ideas on how to fix global issues,” she said.

“Interestingly,” the Reflections program enthusiast continued, “the National PTA holds a theme contest each year, where students submit theme ideas. From these submissions, a theme is selected, so it is actually the children picking out the Reflection themes.”

Sager outlined how the students progress to the state level.

“Reflections committees at each school identified students in each category and age level to represent their school at the regional level,” she said.

Lisa Agdeppa is the Reflections chair at Lahaina Intermediate School, where 42 students submitted their work in the visual arts and literature categories for judging.

“The PTA Reflections is one of our flagship programs,” Agdeppa said.

“We got a good turnout. It was really great to see the teachers involve the students. I was really happy, and it was really rewarding for me to see all the kids who did participate and make the effort,” she added.

Six students from LIS will be heading to the state arena after judging on the regional level: Alexis Encinos, Lilikoi Carol and Amanda Mortimore in the visual arts division, and Hannah Miyamoto, Anis Bel and Dyllan Van Hemert in the literature category.

The literature entry from Kailey Sager of Lahainaluna High School also advanced to the state contest.

Three King Kamehameha III Elementary schoolers achieved regional honors and are progressing to the state competition, including, Kiana Kirkman, 3-5 grade level, visual arts; Nani Kirkman, photography, kindergarten to second grade category; and Ililani Garcia, photography, 3-5 grade level.

“All the regional entries will be on display (at the mall beginning Dec. 28) from the visual arts, photography and literature categories. These entries represent all those that won at the local school unit level and were submitted to regional,” explained Sager.

“The Maui Region PTA is excited to be having our annual program at the Lahaina Cannery Mall again this year,” Sager said.

“The PTA feels very strongly that the arts are an important part of our children’s education, but budget cuts make it increasingly difficult to include art in the curriculum,” the PTA director added.

“In addition to recognizing our talented students, our hope is that holding the ceremony at the Lahaina Cannery Mall will help to increase community awareness of the importance of arts education.”

Together we can!