Local elementary students receive Award of Excellence in the National PTA Reflections program
Jun 13, 2025 08:24PM ● By Collette Hayes
Maximus Misner, a student at Cottonwood Elementary, won the National PTA Reflections Award of Excellence at the primary level for his film production “Scary the Clumsy Ghost." (Collette Hayes/City Journals)
Utah led the nation with 20 Award of Excellence winners in the National PTA Reflections program 2024-2025. Granite School District students Maximus Misner from Cottonwood Elementary and Grayson Hart from Rosecrest Elementary received National Award of Excellence recognition for their outstanding creative expressions inspired by the Reflections theme “Accepting Imperfection.” Each student received a $200 scholarship, a silver medal, and an official certificate from the National PTA.
In May, PTA Region 5 Associate Director Allison Armstrong celebrated with the National PTA Reflection winners at Rosecrest Elementary and Cottonwood Elementary. She feels the Reflections program in the schools is a great opportunity for all kids to showcase their art, whether they win nationally, locally, or are recognized as participants.
She says, “It’s a wonderful opportunity for students to gain recognition, which helps to contribute to a more positive future for the children who participate.”
According to the National PTA website, each year, over 300,000 students in Pre-K through grade 12 challenge their critical thinking skills as well as explore their creative talents in dance choreography, photography, film production, visual arts, literature, and music composition to interpret a specific theme.
Maximus Misner, a student at Cottonwood Elementary, competed in the primary film production category and won the Award of Excellence in the national competition with his film “Scary the Clumsy Ghost. " This Halloween story depicts a young ghost who hasn’t been very successful at scaring people. In the end, Scary does turn out to be the best friend anyone could want to have.
“Max had this idea that he wanted to create an animated film for Cottonwood Elementary’s Reflections contest, which he did, all on his own,” Maximus’ mom, Kim Misner, said. “He wrote the story, drew the characters, uploaded them on Canva, animated them, and then recorded himself reading the story he had written.”
Julie Jackson, Granite School District Board Member representing Rosecrest Elementary and Cottonwood Elementary in Precinct 1 also celebrated at the schools with the national winners.
“In memory, I don’t remember having a student win at the Reflections National level, “Jackson said. “This is a huge deal. There are 23.3 million elementary kids in the US, and 230 were national winners— - Max and Grayson were two winning students!”
Rosecrest Elementary student Grayson Hart received the Award of Excellence in the intermediate category for his musical composition “Pineapple Jazz.”
Armstrong announced that the Reflections theme for 2025-2026 will be “I Belong!” and encouraged all students involved in both school celebrations to begin working on their entries today and to be ready to submit them beginning September 1.
In May, PTA Region 5 Associate Director Allison Armstrong celebrated with the National PTA Reflection winners at Rosecrest Elementary and Cottonwood Elementary. She feels the Reflections program in the schools is a great opportunity for all kids to showcase their art, whether they win nationally, locally, or are recognized as participants.
She says, “It’s a wonderful opportunity for students to gain recognition, which helps to contribute to a more positive future for the children who participate.”
According to the National PTA website, each year, over 300,000 students in Pre-K through grade 12 challenge their critical thinking skills as well as explore their creative talents in dance choreography, photography, film production, visual arts, literature, and music composition to interpret a specific theme.
Maximus Misner, a student at Cottonwood Elementary, competed in the primary film production category and won the Award of Excellence in the national competition with his film “Scary the Clumsy Ghost. " This Halloween story depicts a young ghost who hasn’t been very successful at scaring people. In the end, Scary does turn out to be the best friend anyone could want to have.
“Max had this idea that he wanted to create an animated film for Cottonwood Elementary’s Reflections contest, which he did, all on his own,” Maximus’ mom, Kim Misner, said. “He wrote the story, drew the characters, uploaded them on Canva, animated them, and then recorded himself reading the story he had written.”
Julie Jackson, Granite School District Board Member representing Rosecrest Elementary and Cottonwood Elementary in Precinct 1 also celebrated at the schools with the national winners.
“In memory, I don’t remember having a student win at the Reflections National level, “Jackson said. “This is a huge deal. There are 23.3 million elementary kids in the US, and 230 were national winners— - Max and Grayson were two winning students!”
Rosecrest Elementary student Grayson Hart received the Award of Excellence in the intermediate category for his musical composition “Pineapple Jazz.”
Armstrong announced that the Reflections theme for 2025-2026 will be “I Belong!” and encouraged all students involved in both school celebrations to begin working on their entries today and to be ready to submit them beginning September 1.
