Students Travel to U.S. Department of Education for Award Ceremony

The artwork is part of an ongoing art exhibition at the department and will be open to public viewing through March 2009. Click here or visit www.pta.org/reflections to view some of the artworks to be exhibited.

Students traveled from across the country to participate in the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Among those in  attendance were Jacquelyn Zimmermann, U.S. Department of Education; Jan Harp Domene, National PTA president; Byron Garrett, National PTA Chief Executive Officer; Teresa Williams, National PTA Reflections Program Chair; and dozens of other arts education advocates and leaders from across the country.  The ceremony featured a special message from U.S. Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, and a short performance by international multi-platinum recording artist and National PTA Ambassador CeCe Peniston.

The U.S. Department of Education art exhibit program at its headquarters in Washington, D.C., features visual art created by students in U.S. and international schools, and provides students and teachers an opportunity to display creative work from the classroom in a highly public space in order to honor this work as an effective path to learning and knowledge for all.  To visit the I Can Make a Difference by… exhibit at the U.S. Department of Education, contact Jacquelyn Zimmermann at (202) 401-0762 or at jacquelyn.zimmermann@ed.gov.

About National PTA
PTA comprises millions of families, students, teachers, administrators, and business and community leaders devoted to the educational success of children and the promotion of parent involvement in schools. PTA is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that prides itself on being a powerful voice for all children, a relevant resource for families and communities, and a strong advocate for public education. Membership in PTA is open to anyone who wants to be involved and make a difference for the education health, and welfare of children and youth.

About the Reflections Program
In its almost 40-year history, the program has encouraged millions of students across the nation and in American schools overseas to explore their artistic talents. PTA believes all that children deserve a quality arts education and encourages students to pursue artistic expression through participation in its annual Reflections Program. The program offers students the opportunity to create works of art for fun and recognition. Students in preschool through grade 12 are encouraged to submit works of art in four areas: literature, musical composition, photography, and the visual arts (which includes art forms such as drawing, painting, print making, and collage).

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