By Stefanie Jackson – The Eastern Shore District PTA’s annual meeting and awards ceremony in Exmore Town Park April 27 was an event of special significance to parents, teachers, and students, since last year’s event was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Eastern Shore PTA District Director Joy Phillips, who is both an Accomack County parent and teacher, acknowledged the unique challenges the pandemic has presented to parents.
“Some days, like tonight, it is easy to be a parent – to watch your child get an award and to watch their success. But some days, parenting has become a daunting task, especially during a pandemic.
“Between the virtual and hybrid learning, the new childcare challenges, and making sure you find the perfect social balance for your child, all (while) protecting them from situations where they are vulnerable, it is hard.
“And then, on top of that, you have taken the time to come to PTA and to participate in your child’s school education and to advocate not just for your child, but for children in and out of our community. Thank you,” Phillips said.
Guests at the event included Accomack schools Superintendent Chris Holland, Chincoteague Elementary School Principal Marge Rosati, Kegotank Elementary School Principal Teresa Ibarra, Accawmacke Elementary School Principal Javan Thompson, Metompkin Elementary School Assistant Principal Michelle Buell, and Northampton art teacher David Warren.
Virginia PTA Secretary Scott Rhyne spoke and shared remarks by Virginia PTA President Pamela Croom, who could not attend. Rhyne also assisted in the presentation of the awards to the winning students.
Citizenship Award essay winners for 2020 placed in the following categories:
Elementary School Grades K-2
First, Chase Kirby, Occohannock
Second, Amelia MacDonald, Occohannock
Third, Kassidy Johnson, Occohannock
Elementary School Grades 3-5
First, Jesse Burdette, Kegotank
Second, Danielle Fonseca, Kiptopeke
Third, Ryan Asal, Kiptopeke
Elementary/Middle School Grades 6-8
First, Domingo Brown Jr., Kiptopeke
Second, Kayla Hicks, Northampton
Third, Maliyah Jones, Kiptopeke
Elementary school students who won the Special Writer awards for 2020 were:
First, MeKayla Penn, Kiptopeke
Second, Daniel Alvarado, Kiptopeke
Third, Alan Sardeneta, Kiptopeke
The Reflections Award winners for 2020, by category, grade division, and awarding school PTA (all based in elementary schools except Northampton) were:
Film Production
Primary, Locklyn Giddings, Chincoteague
Intermediate, Kaitlyn Phillips, Accawmacke
Intermediate, Julia Duston, Chincoteague
Music Composition
Primary, Teagan Farmer, Metompkin
Primary, Locklyn Giddings, Chincoteague
Intermediate, Samrit Kaur, Kiptopeke
Intermediate, ShiHeem Goff, Kegotank
Intermediate, Liliana Mason, Metompkin
Intermediate, Cole Hudson, Chincoteague
Middle School, Jugraj Singh, Kiptopeke
Literature
Primary, Cooper Atkins, Chincoteague
Primary, Sidney Anders, Metompkin
Primary, Madelyn Holloway, Chincoteague
Intermediate, Ezirah Stevenson, Accawmacke
Intermediate, C’Asia Abbott, Metompkin
Intermediate, Samrit Kaur, Kiptopeke
Middle School, Ava Siegrist, Kiptopeke
High School, Anaeli Clarke, Northampton
Dance Choreography
Primary, Luciana Vasilou, Chincoteague
Primary, Teagan Farmer, Metompkin
Primary, Savannah Malkovich, Accawmacke
Intermediate, Rylee Giddings, Chincoteague
Intermediate, Alyssa Phillips, Accawmacke
Intermediate, Samrit Kaur, Kiptopeke
Intermediate, Raven Payne, Metompkin
Photography
Primary, Kayla Ross, Chincoteague
Primary, Ella Stabler, Metompkin
Primary, Valerie Stabler, Metompkin
Intermediate, Julia Duston, Chincoteague
Intermediate, Sanaa McNeal-Matthew, Kiptopeke
Middle School, Ava Siegrist, Kiptopeke
Middle School, Alexis Gerber, Northampton
Special Artist, Dax Kraske, Chincoteague
Visual Arts
Primary, Reid Beck, Accawmacke
Primary, Willow Snead, Metompkin
Primary, Logan Speidel, Chincoteague
Primary, Jacoby Brown, Kegotank
Primary, Iris Snead, Metompkin
Primary, Samrit Kaur, Kiptopeke
Intermediate, Tehreem Amjad, Kegotank
Intermediate, Bradley Rogers, Accawmacke
Intermediate, Jayden Merritt, Chincoteague
Intermediate, Ty’laye Smith, Northampton
Middle School, Ashley Austin, Arcadia
Middle School, Ava Siegrist, Kiptopeke
High School, Kyra Stratton, Northampton
Special Artist, ZaNaija Walker, Northampton
Special Artist, King Fosque, Chincoteague
Reflections Award winners for 2021 by category and grade level were:
Literature
K-2, Tate Clark
3-5, Madelyn Holloway
High school, Charlotte Henderson
Visual Arts
K-2, Kayla Ross
3-5, Julia Duston
Middle school, Giselle Cruz
High school, Rocio Pineda
Dance
K-2, Locklyn Giddings
3-5, Rylee Giddings
Photography
K-2, Kayla Ross
3-5, Julia Duston
High school, Daniela Siegrist
Music
K-2, Locklyn Giddings
3-5, Luciana Vasilou
High school, Destiny Carrington
Film
K-2, Locklyn Giddings
3-5, Julia Duston
Citizenship Award essay winners for 2021 were Kaur Samrit at the intermediate level and Daniela Siegrist at the high school level.
Special recognition was given to three students who won PTA Reflections awards at the state level:
Kayla Ross, of Chincoteague Elementary School, received an Award of Excellence in photography.
Locklyn Giddings, also of Chincoteague Elementary School, received an Award of Merit for primary music composition.
Za’Naija Walker, of Northampton High School, won a state award in Visual Arts.
