Student Showcase
Students across the state participate in several Washington State PTA programs and events. From inspiring works of art to composing musical masterpieces to choreographing themed dances and so much more our students are an ongoing source of inspiration.
Reflections
Reflections is a National PTA arts recognition program that helps students explore their own thoughts, feelings and ideas, develop artistic literacy, increase confidence, and find a love for learning that will help them become more successful not only in school but in life.
Students in pre-K through grade 12 create original works of art in response to a theme. The theme for the 2022-2023 program this year was Show Your Voice. Students submitted their completed works of art in one, or all, of the available arts categories: Dance Choreography, Film Production, Literature, Music Composition, Photography, Visual Arts.
Click here for a list of 2023-24 WSPTA Reflections Finalists.
Click here to see finalist information from previous years.
WSPTA Essay Contest
This statewide essay contest explores the important and varied influencers in the lives and education of children – from the children’s perspective. Every day children are exposed to a variety of people and each one has an opportunity to influence the path a child decides to take. Whether it is someone that sparks an interest in a new topic, helps them work through a problem, shapes the kind of person they want to become by modeling behavior, simply listens to them, or any number of other actions, this is the platform for students to share their appreciation.
WSPTA Essay Contest Winners 2023-2024
Special Author – Elementary Division: Verity Truitt – Puesta del Sol Elementary
Kindergarten Division: Charlotte Aftab – “My Role Model in the entire World!” – Redmond Elementary
First-Second Grade Division: Prisha Prasad – “I love my Hero” – Benjamin Rush Elementary
Third-Fifth Division: Leya Paluru – “Teacher for Life” – Rosa Parks Elementary
Sixth-Eighth Division: Arnav Chaturvedi – “Revering Mr. Rivera” – Tyee Middle School
Ninth-Twelfth Division: Dishita Soni – “Always One Step Behind: A Story of My Brother as a Role Model” – Juanita High School
WSPTA Essay Contest Winners 2022-2023
Kindergarten Division: Yashvi Srikumar – Redmond Elementary – PTSA 2.8.46
First-Second Grade Division: Ananta Pulapaka – Redmond Elementary – PTSA 2.8.46
Third-Fifth Division: Aidan Arny – Cedar Wood PTA – 7.3.3
Sixth-Eighth Division: Allison Choi – Issaquah Middle School PTSA – 2.6.35
Ninth-Twelfth Division: Naman Mutalik Desai – Tesla STEM PTSA – 2.8.105
WSPTA Essay Contest Winners 2021-2022
Kindergarten Division: Keya Misar – Kindergarten — Ella Baker PTA 2.8.28 — Essay Title: “My Role Model”
First-Second Grade Division: Ananya Tyagi – 2nd Grade — Medina PTA 2.3.57 — Essay Title: “My Role Model”
Third- Fifth Grade Division: Adelynn Shepherd – 3rd Grade — Mill Creek Elementary PTA 7.3.37 — Essay Title: “My Role Model”
Sixth-Eighth Grade Division: Raghav Arun – 7th Grade — Leota Middle PTSA 6.10.65 — Essay Title: “Aspire to Inspire”
Ninth-Twelfth Grade Division: Ankhita Sathanur – 11th Grade — Eastlake High School PTSA 2.8.88 — Essay Title: untitled
WSPTA Essay Contest Winners 2020-2021
View the 2020-2021 inners reading their essays on our YouTube channel.
Kindergarten Division: Zaiden Tyrewalla – Kindergarten — Horace Mann PTA 2.8.37 — Essay Title: “My Mother”
First-Second Grade Division: Sreya Parasuram – 2nd Grade — Clara Barton PTA 2.8.27 — Essay Title: “My Role Model”
Third- Fifth Grade Division: Ardra Arwin – 4th Grade — Briarwood Elementary PTA 2.6.5 — Essay Title: “My hero who inspired me to be who I am”
Sixth-Eighth Grade Division: Julia Nguyen – 8th Grade — Odle Middle School PTSA 2.3.130 — Essay Title: “The Reverberating Sounds of Kindness”
Ninth-Twelfth Grade Division: Ronny Erlich – 10th Grade — Eastlake High School PTSA 2.8.88 — Essay Title: “Life Lessons in the Key of G”
WSPTA Essay Contest Winners 2019-2020
View the students reading their essays on our YouTube channel.
Kindergarten Division: Rudved Silam — Cherry Crest PTSA 2.3.25 — Essay Title: “My Dad”
First-Second Grade Division: Lakshana Anand–1st Grade — Audubon PTSA 2.8.5 — Essay Title: “Making me a better learner day by day”
Third- Fifth Grade Division: Tracy Zhu–4th Grade — Mill Creek PTA 7.3.37 — Essay Title: “My Influential Role Model”
Sixth-Eighth Grade Division: Tiana Dumitrescu–8th Grade — Inglewood MS PTSA 2.8.73 — Essay Title: “My Coach. My Mentor. My Friend”
Ninth-Twelfth Grade Division: Elizabeth Hwang–9th Grade — Newport HS PTSA 2.3.155 — Essay Title: “No Matter the Distance”
Special Author Division: Garvit Jain-6th Grade — Inglewood MS PTSA 2.8.73 — Essay Title: “My Family”
WSPTA Essay Contest Winners 2018-2019*
*Note: The WSPTA Essay Contest was formerly known as the PTA Men’s Essay Contest. Although the name has changed and the focus has shifted, the guidelines and divisions remain the same.
Special Author Division:
Ernie Walter, 4th grader, Norman Rockwell PTA 2.8.47
“My Grandpa”.
Grade Level Kindergarten:
Aishwarya Anandh, Norman Rockwell PTA 2.8.47,
“My Brother”
Grade level 1-2:
Shaivi Murthy, Fernwood PTSA 6.10.16
“My Dad is My Hero”
Grade level 3-5:
Mya Cato, Silver Firs PTA 7.3.44
“A Simple Life That Makes A Difference”
Grade level 6-8:
Diya Kamboj, Heatherwood PTA 7.3.71
“I Treasure My Grandfather”
Grade level 9-12:
Aashika Vishwanath, Issaquah High School PTSA 2.6.45
“Moves That Matter”
To be inspired by these young authors watch as they read their heart-felt essays on our YouTube channel.
WSPTA Essay Contest Winners 2017-2018*
*Note: The WSPTA Essay Contest was formerly known as the PTA Men’s Essay Contest. Although the name has changed and the focus has shifted, the guidelines and divisions remain the same.
Grade level Kindergarten:
Rayna Jaisalmeria, Rosa Parks PTSA 2.8.43, Redmond
Grade level 1-2:
Elizabeth Knill, Penny Creek PTA 7.3.42, Everett
Grade level 3-5:
Yvonne Pan, Cedar Wood PTA 7.3.3, Bothell
Grade level: 6-8:
Sruttika Srinivasa, Leota Middle School PTSA 6.10.65, Woodinville
Grade level 9-12:
Sam Hollenbeck, Inglemoor High School PTSA 6.10.75, Kenmore
To be inspired by these young authors watch as they read their heart-felt essays on our YouTube channel.
Scholarship Program
The Washington State PTA Scholarship Program offers four $2,500 scholarships to graduating seniors from Washington state public high schools with an active PTA, who will be starting college (either two-year or four-year) in the fall. The scholarship may be used to offset the cost of tuition, books, supplies, room, and/or board. Donate to the student scholarship fund here.
Scholarship Recipients 2023-2024
$2500 scholarship awardees:
Echo He, Skyline High School PTSA 2.6.70
Prospective college/university: University of Washington
Krithipriya Narendran, Interlake High School PTSA 2.3.150
Prospective college/university: Northern Illinois University (tentative)
Allari Jae Strong, North Kitsap High 1.7.25
Prospective college/university: TBD
Kosha Upadhyay, Bellevue High School PTSA 2.3.148
Prospective college/university: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Scholarship Recipients 2022-2023
$2500 scholarship awardees:
Haley Betterton, West Valley High PTA 11.1.35
Prospective college/university: Boise State University
Laney Brackett, Inglemoor High School PTSA 6.10.75
Prospective college/university: University of Colorado
Shivani Jayaprokasam, International Community School PTSA 2.8.89
Prospective college/university: University of Washington
Austin Picinich, Juanita High School PTSA 2.8.90
Prospective college/university: University of Washington
Scholarship Recipients 2021-2022
$2500 scholarship awardees:
Claire Haindfield, Mount Si High PTSA 2.18.60
(Attending the University of California, Berkley)
Hadley Long, Sehome High PTSA 8.3.100
(Attending the University of California, Santa Cruz)
Yubi Mamiya, Shorewood High PTSA 6.12.105
(Attending Princeton University)
Emmalyn (Emma) Mann, Woodinville High PTSA 6.10.85
(Attending Brigham Young University)
Scholarship Recipients 2020-2021
$2500 scholarship awardees:
Trisha Beher, Redmond High School
Claire Brix, Inglemoor High School
Mason Ciolli, Hanford High School
Sofia Leotta, Inglemoor High School
Scholarship Recipients 2019-2020
Washington State PTA offered three $3,000 scholarships and one $1,000 scholarship to graduating seniors from Washington state public high schools in 2019-2020.
$3,000 scholarship awardees:
Evelyn Chen, Newport High School
Mona Malone, Roosevelt High School
Lakshmi Kameswari Lahari Nidadavolu, Tesla STEM High School
$1000 scholarship awardee:
Albert Kwong, Bellevue High School
WSPTA Game Development Competition
The WSPTA Game Development Competition has been discontinued. Thank you to all of the students and volunteers who participated over the years.
The WSPTA Game Development Competition is a STEM-based program, introduced in 2016, to encourage and support student success. Students in grades 9-12 (or 7- and 8-grade students as part of a larger group of 9th graders or older) attending a school with a PTA in good standing may participate and share their knowledge and creativity based on an assigned theme. The purpose is to provide an opportunity for students, either individually or in teams of up to six members, to use their creative talents and express themselves by developing a game, either a physical board game or a computer game. Students’ submissions are judged in the following areas: best board game, best computer game, arts and animation, game design, programming (code), and audio design.
WSPTA Game Development Competition 2022-2023
Overall Best Computer Game Design
Title: Call of Cathulu Not a Cat Sacrifice Sim By Cat Sacrificers
Kyler Li, team lead
Ada Lu
David Zeng
Diane Park
Regina Lin
Bellevue High School PTSA 2.3.148
Best Computer Game Code
Title: Call of Cathulu Not a Cat Sacrifice Sim By Cat Sacrificers
Kyler Li, team lead
Ada Lu
David Zeng
Diane Park
Regina Lin
Bellevue High School PTSA 2.3.148
Best Computer Game Sound
Title: Call of Cathulu Not a Cat Sacrifice Sim By Cat Sacrificers
Kyler Li, team lead
Ada Lu
David Zeng
Diane Park
Regina Lin
Bellevue High School PTSA 2.3.148
Best Computer Art and Animation
Title: Curious Forest
Esther Carl, Newport High School PTSA 2.3.155
Best Middle School Computer Game
Title: Ghostly Gauntlet
Wynston Su, International School PTSA 2.3.121
Top Middle School Team Game
Title: Pixel Knight
Nidheesh Pusuluri, team lead
Ehan Ali
Anabia Baqai
Hudson Jerrems
Wesley Golde
International School PTSA 2.3.121
WSPTA Game Development Competition 2021-2022
Best Team Computer Game & Best Computer Game Code
Team GQ Studios, Roosevelt High PTSA 6.15.500
Title: Eco World
Vincent Zhang, team lead developer and designer
Kaito Okubo, art
Best Individual Computer Game
Title: Stonefaller
Adrian Town, Shorewood High PTSA 6.12.105
Best Computer Game Sound
Team: Team-Bumb, Interlake High PTSA 2.3.150
Title: DINNERSAURS
Sophia Zhang, team lead developer and 3D modeler
Andrew Zhou, developer
Yuchen Xin, developer
Matthew Shell, music
Joshue Cheng, music
Austin Hong, developer
Best Computer Art and Animation
Team: Team-Bumb, Interlake High PTSA 2.3.150
Title: DINNERSAURS
Sophia Zhang, team lead developer and 3D modeler
Andrew Zhou, developer
Yuchen Xin, developer
Matthew Shell, music
Joshue Cheng, music
Austin Hong, developer
Best Board Game
Title: Game Changers
Advait Badrish, Redmond Middle PTSA 2.8.80
Best Board Game Art
Title: Data Busters
Siddhesh Nikam, Nikola Tesla STEM High PTSA 2.8.105
WSPTA Game Development Competition 2020-2021
Best Overall Game – Team
Team 10, Interlake High School PTA 2.3.150
Title: Pandemonic
Bix: Team Leader, Artist, Developer
Yash Varde: Idea, Tech, and Sound Assistant
Adam Little: Artist
Ben Engeldinger: Sound Design/Engineer
Best Game – Individual
Title: Gasser
Sophia Zhang, Interlake High School PTA 2.3.150
Best Code
Team Reverie, Interlake High School PTA 2.3.150
Title: Blob
Emma Huang: Artist, Lead Developer
Claire Wei: Musician, Developer
Janelle Chan: Developer
Best Art and Animation
Title: Gasser
Sophia Zhang, Interlake High School PTA 2.3.150
Best Game Design
Team 10, Interlake High School PTA 2.3.150
Title: Pandemonic
Bix: Team Leader, Artist, Developer
Yash Varde: Idea, Tech, and Sound Assistant
Adam Little: Artist
Ben Engeldinger: Sound Design/Engineer
Best Audio
Title: Knight Hero and the Dark Lands
Aditya Manivel, Eastlake High School PTSA 2.8.88
Board/Text/Card Game
Title: The Lost Island
Shruti Badrish, Redmond High School PTSA 2.8.100
WSPTA Game Development Competition Winners 2019-2020
The theme for the 2019-2020 competition was Animals.
In 2019-2020 only computer games were accepted.
Best Overall Game – Team
Team: Custard, Interlake High School PTA 2.3.150
Title: Cube
Soap (Sophia) Zhang: Team Leader, Artist, Developer
Raza Khan: Artist, Developer
Yuchen Xin: Developer
Chien-Yu Xiong: Developer
Best Game – Individual
Gene Mary Cheruvathur, Tesla STEM High School PTA 2.8.105
Gene Mary Cheruvathur, Tesla STEM High School PTA 2.8.105
Title: Attack of the Globs
Best Code
Team: Custard, Interlake High School PTA 2.3.150
Title: Cube
Soap (Sophia) Zhang: Team Leader, Artist, Developer
Raza Khan: Artist, Developer
Yuchen Xin: Developer
Chien-Yu Xiong: Developer
Best Art and Animation
Team: Fish Otta Water, Interlake High School PTA 2.3.150
Team: Fish Otta Water, Interlake High School PTA 2.3.150
Title: Always a Bigger Fish
Matthew Sun, Artist and Animator
Olaf Seisler, Coder and Team Leader
Yixing Xu, Coder
Russell Sam, Composer, Audio Designer and Coder
Elaine Guo, Coder and Organizer
Best Game Design
Team: Custard, Interlake High School PTA 2.3.150
Title: Cube
Soap (Sophia) Zhang: Team Leader, Artist, Developer
Raza Khan: Artist, Developer
Yuchen Xin: Developer
Chien-Yu Xiong: Developer
Best Audio
Team: Fish Otta Water, Interlake High School PTA 2.3.150
Title: Always a Bigger Fish
Matthew Sun, Artist and Animator
Olaf Seisler, Coder and Team Leader
Yixing Xu, Coder
Russell Sam, Composer, Audio Designer and Coder
Elaine Guo, Coder and Organizer