Reflections Arts Program - North Carolina PTA

Information for 2025-2026 Reflections National Arts Contest

North Carolina PTA proudly encourages the opportunity for local units to participate in the National PTA Reflections Arts Program. Students in Pre-K through grade 12, and an Accessible Arts division, are invited to create theme-based artwork in the categories of dance choreography, film production, literature, musical composition, photography or visual arts. This competition encourages students to express themselves through artistic exploration by providing positive recognition for their artistic efforts.

Since it was founded in 1969 by Mary Lou Anderson, millions of students have benefited from this program.

By October 31st, register for participation in this year's Reflections Arts Program with National PTA and NCPTA.
Register with National PTA here. You will automatically receive a confirmation email.
Register with NCPTA here. You will automatically receive a confirmation email.

HOW IT WORKS

Students submit their completed work of art that falls within 6 different categories, or within the Accessible Arts Division, with an artist statement, to their local school PTA's Reflections contest in the Fall.

Local PTAs celebrate winners at the school level, and then forward winning entries in each age division and art category to their County Council PTA. If your school is not located in a County with a participating Council, then your school PTA's winning entries should be submitted directly to North Carolina PTA for regional judging.
Council PTAs select winning entries and submit winning entries for each age division and art category to North Carolina PTA. Council PTA's hold Student Awards Celebrations in late winter/early spring.

If you are in a county that has PTA Council in good standing, your winning entries must be submitted to them for judging

North Carolina PTA selects and submits state winning entries to National PTA to compete against students from across the United States.
Annually, North Carolina PTA hosts a Reflection Awards Celebration.
National PTA selects and announces winners of the national-level contest in May.

* If your school PTA hasn't been sharing information about Reflections, reach out to your school PTA! They may need a volunteer to help organize the arts contest for your school community.

NORTH CAROLINA PTA AWARDS

Reflections Awards Ceremony: All NCPTA winners will be invited to an awards ceremony, celebrating their success. Their art, or a clip of their art will be displayed and a trophy or medal will be awarded.
Virtual Reflections Gallery: A virtual gallery is available on ncpta.org following the awards ceremony. We hope you will share with family and friends to continue celebrating students' success!

NATIONAL PTA AWARDS

Merit Award: Bronze Medal; Certificate of Merit; Work featured in the virtual exhibition
Award of Excellence: $200 Young Artist Scholarship; Silver Medal; Certificate of Excellence; Work featured in the virtual exhibition
Outstanding Interpretation Award: $800 Young Artist Scholarship; Gold Medal; Certificate of Outstanding Interpretation; Work featured in the virtual exhibition; $200 Prize for Local PTA Unit

GET STARTED!

Step 1: Recruit a Reflections Chair, Committee and Judges. Reflections Chair should review Local Leaders Guide for in-depth information on implementing the Reflections Arts Program and fully follow the timeline of important dates listed here on the NCPTA website.

Step 2: Register and Promote.
Reflections chairperson will want to enroll the PTA in the Reflections program with both NCPTA and National PTA.
By October 31st, register for participation in this year's Reflections Arts Program with National PTA and NCPTA.
Register with National PTA here. Once you register , you will automatically receive a confirmation email.
Register with NCPTA here. Once you register , you will automatically receive a confirmation email.

Step 3: Customize and distribute materials.
Reflections committee will want to be sure to have flyers advertising the competition with important information such as date entries are due, contact information, and category criteria. Student Entry Forms will also want to be completed with PTA information and distributed for participating students.

Reflections Materials can be found on National PTA website here.

Step 4: Recognize and celebrate your students.

Judges will work to recognize winners for each age division and category. 1st place winners will be sent on to next step in judging.

Promote Your Program (August/September)

Advertise your age divisions and categories. For example, elementary schools who serve students Pre-K through 5th Grade would have two age divisions, Primary and Intermediate. Your PTA can choose which categories you would like to take submissions for. If you are just starting out, maybe only accept submissions for a category or two. You can always expand your program the following year!

Distribute the Reflections Rules and Student Entry Forms

Each Student must have a completed student entry form
It is important that the student and their parent/guardian sign the form
They must also have an Artist Statement describing the artwork and how it relates to the theme (10-100 words)

Promote! Be sure your Reflections program is well promoted! Suggestions of promoting the program include: Flyers, newsletters, social media, school announcements, etc.

Judging! (November)

Collect submissions for each age/category

Your judges you established will judge each category and age individually.

The 1st place entry per each category and age division will be forwarded on to NCPTA for the state reflections competition.

*Information for naming and saving requirements for entries can be found on our Reflections Submissions Instructions Page*

If you are in a county that has PTA Council in good standing, your winning entries will be submitted by the council on December 6th at 11:59p.m. No entries will be accepted after this deadline.
If you are NOT in a county that has PTA Council in good standing, your winning entries must be submitted by December 5th at 11:59 p,m. to NCPTA.

Celebrate! (December-June)

Assign and present awards by category and division

Celebrate and Acknowledge the students!

NCPTA Timeline for the 2025-2026 Reflections Program

August 18, 2025 at 6:30 p.m.- Required Reflections Chair Orientation Option 1 of 3; Join virtual orientation here

August 31, 2025 - Deadline for local units to submit Financial Review Acknowledgement & Document Copy in Givebacks

September 18, 2025 at 6:30 p.m.- Required Reflections Chair Orientation Option 2 of 3; Join virtual orientation here

October 18, 2025 at 11:00 a.m.- Required Reflections Chair Orientation Option 3 of 3; Join virtual orientation here

October 31, 2025 - Deadline to Register for Reflections with NCPTA and National PTA
Register with National PTA here.
Register with NCPTA here.

November 7, 2025 - NCPTA will send entry submission instructions to Reflection Chairs of units registered to participate in Reflections

November 7, 2025 by 11:59 p.m. - National PTA Reflections Theme Search submissions due to NCPTA

November 15, 2025 - Deadline for local units to submit Form 990 Acknowledgement & Document Copy in Givebacks

December 5, 2025 by 11:59 p.m.- Local Units without Councils must submit winners directly to NCPTA

*Reminder: If your Local Unit is in a county with a Council in good standing with NCPTA & participating in Reflections, you must submit your unit's winners to the Council following their process and deadlines*

December 6, 2025 by 11:59 p.m.- Council in good standing with NCPTA & participating in Reflections must submit their winners to NCPTA

2026 NCPTA announces its state winners, National PTA announces its national winners, and NCPTA hosts Reflections Celebration to honor state winners.

Local Unit Reflections Materials

Local Leaders Guide
Fillable Student Entry Form
General Reflections Flyer
8.5 x 11 Fillable Poster
Instagram Theme Graphic
General Student Certificate
Thank You Note for Volunteers