The Elwood School District Board of Education was pleased to recognize three outstanding students for winning awards in the National PTA Reflections Program at its meeting on March 18.

Each year, more than 300,000 students from Pre-K – grade 12 submit original works of art in response to student-selected theme. The 50+ year-old program offers students a chance to explore their own thoughts, feelings and ideas while becoming more involved in the arts.  

The theme for 2020-2021 was “I Matter Because.” Students submitted completed works of art in one or all of the available arts categories, including dance choreography, film production, literature, music composition, photography, and visual arts.

Lily Brown, a seventh grader at Elwood Middle School, submitted a poem: ‘Why I Matter,” in which she speaks to the idea of coming together to make the world a better place.  Her poem, which she is currently working to transform into a song, won an Award of Merit for Literature at the school level.

James H. Boyd Intermediate School third grader Sally Ferruzzi was also recognized at the meeting for winning a New York State Reflections Award of Excellence in Composition. Her original song, “Hearts,” performed on the ukulele, focuses on how while we are all different, we all have hearts and should work together for a brighter future. Sally will move on to the National PTA Reflections competition.

The last student to be recognized was Elwood-John H. Glenn High School senior Christopher Addeo, who also won a New York State Reflections Award of Excellence in Composition. For his submission, Christopher used MuseScore computer software to compose an original song and orchestra piece titled “A Burning Passion.” He will also move on to compete at the national level.

Christopher, who has been composing music since eighth grade, was one of only 60 students to be accepted to the prestigious Gallitin School of Individualized Study at New York University where he intends to study industrial psychology and data science. 

The Elwood School District congratulates these students and wishes them much luck in pursuing their passions in the future.