Dec. 15, 2008
King County Civil Rights Commission announces student essay contest winners
On January 17, 2008, three local students will be honored for their winning submissions to the King County Civil Right Commission‘s Eighth Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Essay Writing Contest Award for the best student essays on Dr. King's work.The students selected are: Carli Pogson of Covington, Cedar Heights Middle School, first prize winner of $100; Patricia Flores Perez of Seattle, Lake Washington Middle School, second prize winner of $75; and Audre Bennett of Seattle, Lake Washington Middle School, third prize winner of $50.
"The commission is extremely proud to honor this year's student essayists", said Melissa Ponder, Chair of the Commission. "Their work demonstrated a genuine awareness of the Beloved Community that Dr. King and so many others have passionately worked towards. Their essays confirm their understanding of the progress that has been made and how critical it is that the work continues."
The King County Civil Rights Commission sponsored its annual Essay Contest in the fall of 2007, with the theme: "The Beloved Community". The contest was open to all 8th graders in public and private schools in King County and was intended to encourage students to think critically about Dr. King's legacy of peace and justice. All essays were judged on the author's knowledge of Dr. King and his work in the Civil Rights Movement, originality of ideas, development of point of view, insight, and clarity of expression, organization, and grammar.
The King County Civil Rights Commission Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Essay Writing Contest Awards will be presented at the 21st Annual King County Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration ceremony on Thursday, Jan. 17, 2008, noon to 1 pm in the Paramount Theatre, 901 Pine Street in downtown Seattle. This event is wheelchair accessible, ASL interpreted and free and open to the public.
For more information about the King County Civil Rights Commission or the contest, please visit http://www.metrokc.gov/dias/crc/ online or contact Commission Administrator, Paula Harris-White at 206-296-8610.
Copies of the three winning essays will be available on the Commission website beginning Friday January 18, 2008.