"Diversity Means..."

That's the theme the National Parent Teacher Association (PTA) chose for the 2011-2012 Reflections program, and more than 100 children and their parents packed the Lakewood Civic Auditorium Tuesday night to honor the best and brightest interpretations of that theme.

The Lakewood Council PTA, along with special guests including Lakewood City Council and Board of Education members, recognized 139 artists in nine PTA groups across the district who demonstrated artistic merit, creativity and interpretation of the theme.

Twenty-four pieces were selected to move on to the state competition in one of the following categories: literature, film, visual arts, photography and music.

The event's special guest, Local Girl Gallery owner Linda Goik, brought a picture she drew when she was in kindergarten and talked about her elementary school art projects, which shaped her into the artist she is today.

"I was proud of what I made, and how it made me feel," Goik said.

Lakewood Council PTA president Christina McCullumm said, given this year's theme was both fitting and a challenge to students in Lakewood.

"Students may not even be thinking about diversity because it's so prevalent in their everyday lives," she said.

Matt McIntire, the PTA's Reflections committee chair, said it's good the children are starting to think about what diversity means.

"This is stuff they're going to have to talk about eventually," he said. "It's good to get them thinking about it early."