Creativity flows in family

It was a big day for the Jensen family.

Keyana, Keylan, Skylar and Kyra collectively received a total of six Awards of Excellence at the Huntington Union Council’s 112th Founders Day Luncheon on Friday.

At the annual luncheon, Huntington Beach’s three school districts and the Fountain Valley School District celebrate the founding of what is now known as the National PTA.

Each year, the National PTA holds an art contest, the Reflections Program. This year, students were asked to create a visual or performing arts piece related to the theme, “Wow!”

The Jensen kids’ mom and dad were busy as well; Teri Jensen is the council’s Reflections chairwoman, and her husband, Talon, the A/V coordinator at Dwyer Middle School, provided slideshow services.

Their passion for the arts evidently trickled down their children, who won awards in photography, musical composition and film/video production. In the last category, three of the four winners were Jensens.

The council received 998 entries from 22 of the council’s 24 schools, in visual arts, photography, literature, musical composition, film/video production and dance choreography. Winners from four divisions — primary, secondary, middle school and high school — were honored at the luncheon.

In addition, three people were awarded with Honorary Service Awards for their outstanding contributions to the youth and community: Ellen Shiro, the Huntington Beach Union High School District’s project outreach liaison; Ocean View School District Supt. Alan Rasmussen; and Fulton Parent-Teacher Assn. President Cheri Jones.

The 24 student Award of Excellence winners’ entries were sent to the Fourth District PTA, which includes all of Orange County and some of Los Angeles County. Nine local students were finalists, and three — Remy Gilboe, Skylar Jensen and Megan Steinkirchner — will go on to compete at the state level.

“Our job is to support districts in these difficult economic times to prioritize and make decisions, always keeping in mind what’s important for the kids,” said Jim Thomas, the Visual and Performing Arts coordinator for the Orange County Department of Education.

Thomas said a recent initiative to introduce and expand the arts in several county schools has had overwhelmingly positive results, by engaging children in learning, showing teachers and parents the value of the arts, and giving teachers a new set of tools to enrich their curriculum.

“The kids’ enthusiasm has encouraged schools to see the arts are central to education,” Thomas said. “And the Reflections Program is a commitment that the PTA has made to showcase the joy and talents of their students. These programs help us set our vision.”

Reporter CANDICE BAKER may be reached at (714) 966-4631 or at [email protected].