Every year, the National PTA (locally sponsored by Utah PTA and Murray’s Region 19 PTA) presents the annual Reflections contest for elementary and secondary students. Students are invited to consider the contest’s theme, then enter original work in a variety of categories, including Dance Choreography, Film Production, Literature, Music Composition, Photography, and Visual Arts.

This coming school year’s Reflections theme for 2025-2026 is “I Belong!”. Competition opens at the region and state levels in the Fall (just after school begins). Statewide winners are typically announced in the Winter, January/February timeframe. The state’s top winners then move on to the national competition.

To learn more about this year’s competition, including specific dates, deadlines, and rules, please contact Region 19 PTA President Cheree Larson or your school’s local PTA president. The Utah PTA organization also has comprehensive information about Reflections on their site, including past winners, important dates, and rules. Students can submit their entries online via Utah PTA Reflections. For general inquiries, you can also email the Utah PTA Reflections Specialist at reflections@utahpta.org. You can find more information for students and families on the National PTA Reflections page.

Along with this competition, students are also encouraged to submit theme ideas for future years. The National PTA selects themes two years in advance. The theme search contest opens in the Summer and typically ends on December 1. To learn more about how your student can develop and submit a theme for a future Reflections contest, visit the Utah PTA Reflections Information for Parents page and click on the link to submit ideas for a future Reflections theme. Utah PTA will send selected suggestions to the national level. The national winner receives $100 and national recognition.