“This photograph by Darcy Page won first place in state and a Merit Award in National Reflections competition.Darcy Page, a student at South Whidbey Intermediate School, won first place for her photograph in the Washington State PTA Reflections program this spring, and earned further distinction with a Merit Award from the National PTA. It is the first time a student from Whidbey has won a state or national Reflections award. Darcy is the daughter of Lorinda Kay of Clinton and Mike Page of Scatchet Head.She was honored along with 125 local winners statewide in a ceremony May 5 at the PTA State Convention in Seattle. More than 10,000 first place winners from schools across Washington were judged at state level in four categories: visual arts, literature, photography and music. Each category received first through third place awards and five honorable mentions for each school level; primary, intermediate, junior and high school. There were over 2,000 entries in photography alone. Darcy was excited to be a state first place winner, but the honors were not over yet, said her mother. Following the awards presentation, it was announced that the state first place entries had been sent to the National PTA competition. Eleven students from Washington State earned national awards, the largest number of winners from any one state. Each category received eight awards, three General Excellence and five Merit Awards.Darcy was thrilled to hear her name announced as a National Merit winner, Kay said.The Reflections program is a National PTA cultural arts competition that provides an opportunity for students to use their creative talents by expressing themselves through original works.This year the theme was, It Would Be Really Strange If… Darcy’s photo was named, …If You Could Hold the Beach in Your Hands.When asked what inspired her photograph, Darcy replied that she lives at the beach and while walking one day she picked up a shell.I thought it would an interesting photograph to have a picture of the beach in a shell, she said.Darcy’s photograph, along with all state winning entries, will be exhibited at the Monroe State Fair. Darcy will also enter her photograph at the Island County Fair this fall.The Reflections program is open to all students affiliated with a PTA. Next year a new category, dance, will be added to the program. Reflections 2001 – 2002 theme is I hold in my hand… “