Arizona Virtual Academy (AZVA), a full-time online public school serving K-12 students throughout the state, recently announced that two of its local students have been recognized as winners in the national K12 Photography Competition.
With more than 12,000 submissions from K-12 students across the country, only 39 winners were selected to share in more than $20,000 in cash prizes. AZVA students Leilani Badilla and Brooklyn Eure earned top honors in their categories, showcasing their creative vision and storytelling through photography.
The K12 Photography Competition offers a national platform for young photographers to share their unique perspectives, inviting all U.S. students in grades K-12 to submit multiple photos for evaluation based on impact, creativity, composition and technical skill. A People's Choice award winner, determined through public voting, and first- and second-place winners were selected for each grade level by an esteemed panel of judges: National Geographic traveler and photographer Jeff Mauritzen, Sony World Photography Award winner Khanh Phan, Nashville-based photographer Hannah Baker and Utah lifestyle photographer McKenna Barney.
Badilla, AZVA’s People’s Choice winner for second grade, captured a “honey bee enjoying a freshly watered flower in [her] yard.” Her thoughtful close-up photograph won over the public and earned her a $100 prize. Eure, AZVA’s second-place winner in the fourth-grade category, shared a colorful photo of a “superstar butterfly,” who, as she described, “posed with her amazing and colorful wings like a true model! She reminds me that life is good and we should appreciate it.” Eure’s skillful composition earned her $500 in prize money.
“It’s a privilege to celebrate the achievements of our talented student photographers,” said Forrest Smith, executive director of Arizona Virtual Academy. “Leilani and Brooklyn both demonstrate the power of capturing and sharing beauty in the everyday. We’re incredibly proud of their success and the artistic growth this competition encourages for all participants.”
AZVA is committed to fostering an environment where students are empowered to pursue their passions while excelling academically. Since its establishment, AZVA has dedicated itself to providing accessible, high-quality education across the state, helping students develop their skills and interests for future success.
For more information, visit azva.k12.com.
