Lauren Cascario’s artwork earned her the Oma’s Choice Award. Photo provided by Kelly Cascario.On November 7, Elsinore Middle School Reflections Chair Susan Thomas presented Canyon Lake student Lauren Cascario with the Oma’s Choice Award for the 2019/2020 PTA Reflections Art Competition from the 23rd PTA District. Thomas made a special trip to Cascario’s home to present her with the award.
Cascario entered her art project into the competition at Tuscany Hills Elementary School. She won the Award of Excellence and advanced to the Elsinore PTSA Council where she competed with all the winning primary students in the Lake Elsinore School District. She again won the Award of Excellence.
Cascario then advanced to the 23rd PTA District to compete with all the winning entries in the Riverside County School District where she won the Oma’s Choice Award.
Elsinore Middle School Reflections Chair Susan Thomas presents Lauren Cascario with the Oma’s Choice Award. Photo by Canyon Lake Insider.The Oma’s Choice Award is named after Bunnie “Oma” Crowley, who passed away in August 2019 at the age of 80.
Crowley was a veteran of the U.S. Army who loved her family and volunteering. “My mom would spend her social security on families around her and go without as long as they had food,” her daughter, Tigger Porter, said.
One of Crowley’s favorite things to do was to pick her favorite Reflections art project. “There was no rhyme or reason but it was always heartfelt and usually emotionally charged,” said Porter.
The National PTA’s Reflections program provides opportunities for recognition and access to the arts which boost student confidence and success in the arts and in life. Each year, more than 300,000 students in pre-K through grade 12 create original works of art in response to a student-selected theme. The 2019/2020 theme was “Look Within.”
