mlk essay contest 2021 connecticut

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Martin Luther King Jr. Essay Contest

Senator Murphy is inviting elementary, middle, and high school students from across Connecticut to help honor the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. by submitting essays that reflect on Dr. King's dream, their own aspirations, and the importance of what Dr. King means to them.

Have questions? Please contact our office at: [email protected]

The 2024 contest is now over, thank you to everyone who submitted an essay! Due Date:  The contest is now closed. Winners will be announced on Martin Luther King Day (Jan 15).

Writing Prompt:  Students must submit individual essays that reflect on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream and work towards equality. Students should provide their own aspirations, and the importance of what Dr. King means to them.

Word Count Guidelines:  Elementary School (K-5): 100-200 words Elementary School Students may submit essays with drawings or photos .Middle School (6-8): 300 wordsHigh School (9-12): 500 words Entries may be handwritten or submitted electronically using the form on this page.

You can find this year’s winners below:

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U.S. Sen. Murphy shares winning essays of his 5th annual ‘Martin Luther King Jr. Day essay contest’

HARTFORD, Conn — In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) announced on Monday the 15 winners of his fifth annual ‘Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Essay Contest.’ This year, Murphy received close to 2,800 entries from elementary, middle, and high school students from across Connecticut reflecting on Dr. King’s dream and their own aspirations.

“The events of the past year have laid bare the mass inequities in our country and, as we reflect on Dr. King’s dream for justice and equality in America, it is clear we still have a way to go,” said Murphy. “The essays submitted by students across Connecticut continue to give me hope. I’m certain that if these students continue to stay engaged in their community and reject the sins of our past, we’ll realize Dr. King’s dream sooner rather than later.”

The winning essays and pictures can be viewed below. Click on each student’s name to download his or her essay.

1st Congressional District Winners:

· Henry Adade, South Windsor, Pleasant Valley Elementary

· Cole Leavitt, Cromwell, Cromwell Middle School

· Ayana Perez, Hartford, Al Prince Technical High School

2nd Congressional District Winners:

· Cierra Bass, Groton, Robert E. Fitch Senior High School

· Ella DeVito, Waterford, Oswegatchie Elementary School

· Kayla Lin, Mansfield, Mansfield Middle School

3rd Congressional District Winners:

· Brianna, Derby, Derby Middle School

· Aanya Kumar, Wallingford, Parker Farms Elementary School

· Aliya Prosser, Milford, Joseph A. Foran High School

4th Congressional District Winners:

· Krish Bande, Stamford, Davenport Ridge Elementary School

· Yurika Sakai, Greenwich, Greenwich High School

· Hudson Zentz, Trumbull, Madison Middle School

5th Congressional District Winners:

· Emma Burroughs, Meriden, Washington Middle School

· Malaysia Gonzalez, Waterbury, Wallace Middle School

· Samhita Shirsat, Brookfield, Brookfield High School

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Wallingford Student Wins Martin Luther King Jr. Essay Challenge

W ALLINGFORD, CT — Madison Persaud, a sixth-grade student at James H. Moran Middle School in Wallingford, was among the 15 elementary, middle, and high school students from across Connecticut selected as winners of U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy's eighth annual “Martin Luther King Jr. Day Essay Contest.”

This year, Murphy (D-Conn.) received more than 1,650 entries from Connecticut students reflecting on Dr. King’s dream and their own aspirations.

“As we reflect on Dr. King’s fight for equality and justice, we are reminded of the work still ahead,” Murphy said in a statement. “Every year, I am so impressed by the students from across the state who submit such thoughtful essays on what Dr. King’s legacy means to them. Their hope and determination to build a more equitable future should inspire us all.”

Read Persaud’s essay below:

Martin Luther King Junior’s dream was important because he wanted civil rights for all people. He wanted people to be judged for who they are as a person, not what they look like. He was an advocate for people who didn’t have a voice, and he was willing to risk his life for people's rights in the future. He had hope; he believed that he could change the world.

He inspires me because my family immigrated to America from Guyana. In Guyana, my mom lived in poverty. She was cleaning people’s houses by the time she was 6, struggling throughout her life. When she met my dad, they made the choice to move to America. They sacrificed a lot to make sure that my siblings and I had a good life. She worked hard, and because of MLK’s work towards equality, she was able to be successful.

Today, my mom works for Hartford Healthcare, providing care to elderly people. As I get older, I realize the importance of health care, and I have a dream of being a registered nurse. I want to succeed in this dream because I grew up seeing people in extremely poor living environments.

Seeing my parents so successful motivated me to believe in myself. His dream, work, and legacy motivate me to work hard and believe, even when I don’t feel confident. He had a voice for those who didn’t, and even though racism was a lot worse than it is today, that didn’t stop Dr. King from advocating for all people. His hard work and determination inspire me to reach for my goals, stay in school and keep on going, even if people tell me otherwise. MLK not only inspires me to work harder but to be optimistic at hard times.

The article Wallingford Student Wins Martin Luther King Jr. Essay Challenge appeared first on Wallingford Patch .

Students reflect on MLK's legacy in a CT essay contest. Here are some of the winners

Over 60 years ago, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his “ I Have a Dream ” speech from the Lincoln Memorial steps. Today, his vision of America still resonates in young Connecticut residents.

“I think we should all have dreams about what a better world could look like,” said 9-year-old Emma Hadari.

Hadari is one of fifteen winners in a statewide essay contest asking students to reflect on their own goals and King’s legacy. For the last eight years, U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy has opened the contest to students in elementary, middle and high school.

Sabrina Guerra, 11, described in their winning essay how King’s work inspires them to bring equality to marginalized people. Guerra is an autistic non-speaker and an advocate for people with disabilities . “Writing about my lived experience is often painful, but the strength of change makers before me propels me onward,” Guerra shared.

Cooper Brown, 12, another 2023 essay winner, sees the holiday as a time for introspection. “MLK Day is really a day to reflect and think about the choices that we've made, the choices that we can make for the future to help inspire change,” Brown said.

In the contest, three submissions are chosen from each of the state’s congressional districts. The 2024 winning essays will be posted  online  on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Read some of the winning 2023 essays below:

Cooper Brown, 12

Working to make change is like riding a bike. Sometimes you are bruised, but what matters most is to keep pedaling forward.

'My dreams aren't for myself, but for others'

Bombed, battered and bruised he stood, but broken he was not. With wise words of inspiration to change, King said, “I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great of a burden to bear.” He was right. The burden of hate almost broke our bombed, battered, and bruised nation. Our bruise, the hate inflicted on this country, has turned into a scar forever marking our history.

Dr. King had a dream of hope, a dream of change. He inspired people of color to take action, he inspired me. Even from Birmingham jail he tried to inspire action. He inspires me to chase my dreams everyday despite challenges.

I dream of going to Yale, to become a public servant following in the footsteps of King. My dreams aren't for myself, but for others. As a politician, I want to fight for equality and uplift people who are struggling. That's why Dr. King’s mission has deep meaning to me, a kid trying to make a difference. At 9, I became student council president at my elementary school, learning of my election the same day President Biden learned about his.

A year earlier during COVID lockdown, I started my own mission. As a biracial American I wanted to give back to the community like MLK. The mission was to give bikes to kids who might go their whole childhood without a bike. I partnered with a non-profit collecting bikes around the Farmington Valley and organized giveaways in Hartford. Ironically, at the time I didn't know how to ride a two-wheel bike myself.

I started this project to be selfless. Selfless like King, who sacrificed his life to his mission. Working to make change is like riding a bike.

Sometimes you are bruised but what matters most is to keep pedaling forward.

Emma Hadari, 9

I have a dream that one day every school will feel safe, with no practice lockdowns, no school shootings, and gun-free neighborhoods with children playing together on every street and park.

'Take his message and keep going'

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. tells people in his “I Have a Dream” speech to not judge others by the color of their skin, but to focus on their character. Racism was the focus of Dr. King's speech, but I think that we need to take his message and keep going.

These are some of my dreams: I have a dream that one day this country will hold this truth to be self-evident: that all men AND WOMEN are created equal.

I have a dream that one day on every playground in America, LGBTQ+ kids and straight kids will play together and hold hands on swings. I have a dream that one day every town in the U.S. will be transformed into a safe place for people with mental illness or disabilities.

I have a dream that all children will one day live in a nation where they won’t be judged by how rich or poor they are, but by how honest, kind, and loving they are.

I have a dream that one day boys and girls who come from other countries will be able to join hands with white boys and girls and feel like they really belong.

I have a dream today.

Sabrina Guerra, 11

My advocacy is a fire that burns within my damaged yet proud and beautiful soul.

'An inextinguishable flame for justice'

Martin Luther King Jr. aspired to bring peace and equality to oppressed people. I share this dream. I am of a marginalized group fighting for our right to be heard, the right to define ourselves, and the right to belong. I am an autistic non-speaker and I've been subjected to mistreatment and segregation because of prejudice and ignorance. Like MLK Jr., I have an inextinguishable flame for justice.

Ableism is a damaging force in society, destroying souls and sowing division. Ableism looms over America's education system, saturates our medical institutions, and shrouds our media. In my lived experience ableism usurped my right to an equal education.

MLK Jr. made history by a tireless campaign toward progress. He refused his challengers' insistence that he and his people patiently wait for justice. As was right and bold then, our revolution is now. Disabled voices must be amplified over those who have no authority to speak for us, define us, nor deny us access.

On countless occasions my mind has sailed to feats of unyielding courage of Martin Luther King Jr. and his peers. Many stinging, similar offenses and parallel dreams tie my aspirations to their journeys and leadership.

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Winners Named In Norwalk Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Essay Contest

"congratulations to all the students who took the time to submit an essay," said sherelle harris, norwalk public library interim director..

Alfred Branch , Patch Staff

NORWALK, CT — Nine Norwalk Public School students have been announced as the winners of the 2021 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. essay contest, which was sponsored by the Norwalk Public Library, Norwalk Branch NAACP and Norwalk school system.

The Norwalk students wrote essays from their points of view about the significance of Dr. Martin Luther King's Civil Rights mission. The winning entries are:

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WINNERS

Find out what's happening in Norwalk with free, real-time updates from Patch.

FIRST PLACE Riley Wiggins Columbus Magnet School | 3rd Grade

SECOND PLACE Ariana Brown Kendall College and Career Academy | 5th Grade

THIRD PLACE Guadalupe Trejo Reyes Kendall College and Career Academy | 5th Grade MIDDLE SCHOOL WINNERS

FIRST PLACE Joalys Rosario Roton Middle School | 6th Grade

SECOND PLACE Shanice Daniels Roton Middle School | 6th Grade

THIRD PLACE Isla Tucker Roton Middle School | 6th Grade HIGH SCHOOL WINNERS

FIRST PLACE Denali Baker Norwalk High School | 12th Grade

SECOND PLACE Ava Massucco Brien McMahon High School | 9th Grade

THIRD PLACE Joanna Susan Gentle Norwalk High School |9th Grade

A video of the students reading their winning entries can be found in at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdD2eINS44s

This is from the announcement:

Mahatma Gandhi is known for saying, "You must be the change you wish to see in the world." Dr. King credits Gandhi for influencing his political and social views. Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech, delivered during the March on Washington on August 28, 1963, called for freedom, civil and economic rights, and an end to racism in the United States. He said, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."

Senator Chris Murphy hosted his fifth annual state-wide essay contest this year in honor of Dr. King's legacy. Last year Alyssa Monteiro, Wolfpit Elementary School, was one of three winners from the fourth congressional district. Natalie Ochoa, Brien McMahon High School, was one of three winners from the district in 2019. Kristopher Flores, Roton Middle School, and Latrel Stewart, Brien McMahon High School, were 2018 winners. While there were no Norwalk students to place in the first and fifth annual state contest, there were nine winners in the local contest.

"I appreciate the efforts of all those who entered the 2021 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. essay contest and to the NAACP and numerous volunteers who helped organize the contest and score the submissions. Our students are the future leaders in Norwalk and around the globe. They will help bring real change to this world. Congratulations to the nine winners of this year’s essay contest. I encourage everyone to find time to read the impactful words written by our students," said Norwalk Mayor Harry W. Rilling.

"Congratulations to all the students who took the time to submit an essay," said Sherelle Harris, Norwalk Public Library Interim Director. "I am so very pleased that we were able to offer a collaborative program to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in Norwalk this year. I was a little worried that the pandemic might prevent this, but everyone pulled to make it happen. The Norwalk Public Library management team--Laurie Iffland, Cynde Lahey, and Vicki Oatis, one of the contest's judges--contributed the idea to focus on the pillars of Dr. King's legacy: Educational equity, environmental equity, and racial justice equity."

There were 84 elementary school entries, 41 middle school entries, and 14 high school entries. The judges were paired per category to choose the top six essays in their respective categories. Thereafter, all the judges came together to decide the top three in each category. They had a weekend to complete the process.

"Reading dozens of student essays left me with a strong feeling of optimism about the future because so many students successfully connected what they had learned about Dr. King’s activism not just to an historical understanding of the civil rights challenges of his time but also to their own personal life aspirations and as well as to their interpretation of current events, such as the recent assault on the U.S. Capitol," said Alex Knopp, Library Board President.

"Judging the Martin Luther King, Jr. essay contest was one of the most moving and inspirational acts I've participated in as an educator in a very long time," said James Martinez, Director of School Counseling K-12 Department of Specialized Learning and Student Services at Norwalk Public Schools. In a time when there is a calling for us to examine our moral compass toward treating humanity more deeply, I had the honor of reading essays written by Norwalk's most precious commodity, our elementary school students. Dr. King would be so very proud of the influence he has had on our youth after so many decades. I feel so humbled and blessed for the opportunity to judge."

"Being involved in the Martin Luther King, Jr. Essay Contest was an amazing and humbling experience," said Vicki Oatis, Director of Youth Services at the Norwalk Public Library. "Even at a young age, the kids show a great understanding of this quote by John Lewis: 'Do not get lost in a sea of despair. Be hopeful, be optimistic. Our struggle is not the struggle of a day, a week, a month, or a year, it is the struggle of a lifetime.' They bring their personal experiences of racial inequities, but also an optimistic hope for a better future. I learned a lot from reading these essays and I was honored to be involved in the contest."

The Norwalk Branch NAACP scholarship committee, with Rosa Murray as Chair, was instrumental in making sure each winner in all three categories received monetary prizes. First place winners received $100. Second place winners received $50. Third place winners received $25.

"It was our pleasure to support young people in this endeavor," said Brenda Penn Williams, Norwalk Branch NAACP President.

"I appreciate the efforts of teachers and principals to get students engaged under Dr. Estrella, Norwalk Public Schools Superintendent's leadership," said Harris. "As Lamond Daniels, City of Norwalk Community Services Chief says, 'These children are all of our children, and we have to take care of them together.'"

"Participating in the Martin Luther King, Jr. essay contest was such a pleasure," said Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff. "I thoroughly enjoyed reading and learning what is on the minds of our students. They wrote eloquently with passion and purpose. I want to thank everyone involved locally and U.S. Senator Chris Murphy for leading this initiative."

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2021 Martin Luther King Jr. Essay Contest Winners

Student essays were submitted as a part of the 2021 Martin Luther King Jr. Essay Contest. Students were asked to write an essay on the following quote from Dr. King:

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”

In addition, students were asked to consider the following questions when drafting their submissions:

• How do you feel about this quote?
• What does this quote mean to you?
• How can you use these words to honor Dr. King and the life he lived?

Thank you to the dedicated Ball State University faculty who evaluated this year’s essays: Lori Boyland, Molly Tipton, Fen English, Sarah Hollowell, Casey Schultz, Nick Elam, Serena Salloum, Tracy Caddell, Kendra Lowery, Mike Shaffer, Rachel Geesa, Thalia Mullvihill, Mandy Latz, Robin Phelps-Ward, Elizabeth DeYoung, Makala Ceresa, Alan McPherson, Jeffry Neuhouser and Gabbie Morrison.

We are excited to recognize the 2021 winners in both the Junior and Senior divisions. Congratulations to all participants!

Junior Division Winners: 1st Place: Eleana Winters , Westside Catholic School – Sacred Heart Campus, Evansville 2nd Place: Ava Blomenberg, Immanuel Lutheran School, Seymour 3rd Place: Louay Zeitoun, Union Township Middle School, Valparaiso

Senior Division Winners: 1st Place: Megan Caffey, Franklin Central High School, Indianapolis 2nd Place: Shelby Prybell, Valparaiso High School 3rd Place: Kianah King, Portage High School

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Martin Luther King in Connecticut

January 16, 2023 | publicity | Uncategorized

January 16th marks the annual celebration of the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Connecticut residents might be interested in learning that Dr. King spent some time in our state, both as an unknown student and as a national leader.

This first passage is from an essay by Connecticut historian Stacey Close, “Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Connecticut, and Non-Violent Protest.” The essay, found in  African American Connecticut Explored , explains the impact of Dr. King on African Americans in Connecticut and, in turn, the influence of Connecticut residents on the Civil Rights movement. It begins with the story of King’s first trip to Connecticut.

As a teenager in 1944 Martin Luther King, Jr. became part of a long tradition of southern students venturing to Connecticut to spend the summer working in the state’s tobacco fields. The teenager joined a group of students from Atlanta, Georgia’s Morehouse College at work on a Simsbury, Connecticut, farm. In  My Life with Martin Luther King, Jr. , Coretta Scott King recalled that her eventual husband experienced an incredible sense of “freedom” while in Connecticut. Unlike in the South, King and other southern youth ate in restaurants and visited local theaters without having to deal with the horror of legalized segregation. Coretta Scott King argued that the opportunity to lead devotional services with other students that summer started Martin on the road to becoming a minister. This visit to Connecticut had a major impact on the teenage King, but his relationship with Connecticut did not stop there. Later efforts by Connecticans would make important contributions to the non-violent civil rights movement he led in the South. People from Connecticut would frequently travel south to bolster the civil rights movement, and Dr. King’s visits to Connecticut would helped to support and transform African American communities in urban areas here.

In addition to Close’s essay, and other essays dealing with Civil Rights era Connecticut, we find historian Cynthia Reik’s moving essay, “What Would Dr. King Want You to Do?” Her essay deals with King’s tragic assassination and the reaction of school children in Hartford.

On Thursday evening, April 4, 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. In response, riots erupted in Hartford’s North End. People were angry about the lack of progress on King’s dream: integrated education, housing, a fair judicial system, and jobs. Republican Mayor Ann Uccello, the first woman elected mayor of a Connecticut municipality and the first woman in the U.S. elected mayor of a capital city, went into the rioting area in a police cruiser on Thursday evening against the advice of most of her administration, carrying but not wearing a riot helmet.  The Hartford Time s reported that she toured the public housing complexes, “mingling with the people, trying to let them know the city cared.” The police cordoned off the North End and used massive doses of tear gas to quiet the rioters. Residents in the city’s West End reported that the tear gas was so heavy that it drifted to Elizabeth Park. Showing the extent to which the city was divided, one Fox Scholar graduate of Hartford Public High School, Tom Smith, then attending college nearby, drove to join his family in the North End to share their sorrow but was turned away by police. Friday morning, after extensive rioting, when Hartford Public High School (where I was a teacher) opened at 7:30 a.m., John Gale (Hartford Public High School class of 1969) recalled that many students remained outdoors, uncertain as to whether it was appropriate to enter the school. The student body was then about 50 percent African American, 15 percent Latino, and the rest white. The principal of Hartford Public High, Dr. Duncan Yetman, came outside to address the reluctant students, asking the question, “What would Dr. King want you to do?” Most students came inside and went to their homerooms for attendance. Over the P.A. system, Dr. Yetman gave students the option of remaining for a regular day or coming down to the office to phone home for parental permission to leave school. For two hours students tied up the office phones, making arrangements to leave. Instead of going directly home, however, four hundred or more students walked down Farmington Avenue to St. Joseph Cathedral and asked the rector, Monsignor Father John S. Kennedy, to hold a memorial service for Dr. King. Msgr. Kennedy agreed. During this impromptu service,  The Hartford Courant ’s David Rhinelander reported, Kennedy said, “the Rev. Dr. King was a great black man. He was ‘perhaps the greatest man of his generation.’”

Visit the book page to learn more about  African American Connecticut Explored , which covers the state’s African American history from the Colonial era through the Civil Rights era. A full list of topics covered is found at the book page.

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US Sen. Chris Murphy launches 2nd annual MLK essay contest

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HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Connecticut U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy is launching is second annual Martin Luther King Jr. Essay Challenge.

The Democrat is urging elementary, middle and high school students across the state to honor the late civil rights leader by submitting essays reflecting on King’s dream and their own aspirations.

Murphy says he hopes the essay challenge will encourage young people all over Connecticut to “commit to making Dr. King’s dream for equality” a reality. He says “racism, homophobia and prejudice are tragically alive and well in America today.”

January 10 is the deadline for submissions. Essays should be no longer than 500 words for high school, 300 words for middle school and 100-to-200 words for elementary school students. They should be submitted online.

Selected essays will be displayed in Murphy’s Washington office.

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Art Contest Winners

Click here to view all art contest finalists at MLKofNorthTexas.org .

Essay Contest Winners

Selections chosen from each winning essay, 4th grade: auspyn kubasta, mill street elementary, ms. nicholson, 5th grade: zoya tapia, hebron valley elementary, mrs. nelson, 6th grade: tanvi padala, mckamy middle school, mrs. edge, 7th grade: thiyanah nimallan, mckamy middle school, mrs. warriner, 8th grade: lara makkapati, lamar middle school, mrs. reynolds.

Our current world is split by this ocean. One side containing wealthy civilization - The other, scattered with the unable who are manipulated by the self-righteous. I look from the edge of the coast, across this ocean and see nothing but the dark waves of the future knowing most of my life was built on the foundation of oppression.  Oblivious to a world where my worth can be defined by my appearance and my status.  MLK wanted to change this. MLK had an unbreakable faith that America could reach his goals of love, peace and equality among everyone as long as we follow his philosophy and take a stand against the Triple Evils.  As citizens it is our duty to discard our kaleidoscope.  Instead MLK would encourage you to put the world under a microscope, everyday.  To see how you can drain the ocean of oppression to unite the landmass once divided.

9th Grade: Abhijay Kodali, Flower Mound 9 High School, Mrs. Greenlaw

10th grade: valerie parada, lhs harmon, mrs. phillips, 11th grade: lahari guduru, flower mound high school, mrs. figueredo, 12th grade: advika rajeev, flower mound high school, ms. bowen.

Click here to view all essay contest finalists at MLKofNorthTexas.org .

Photography Contest Winners

Click here to view all photography contest finalists at MLKofNorthTexas.org .

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Essay Contest

2024 Town of Paradise Valley Martin Luther King Jr. Essay Contest

All 5 th , 6 th , 7 th , and 8th-grade students are invited to submit an essay on this year’s theme. There will be one winner picked from each grade level, and these winners will be announced in January 2024.  Each grade level will have one winner.

Winners will be given a Trophy and Gift Card during the  Town of Paradise Valley Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration in Town Hall on Monday, January 15th, 2024 .  Winners and their families are invited and encouraged to attend the event.

Essay Submission Deadline:   December 15, 2023

Essay Topic: “Changing Hearts and Minds”

Requirements:

• The essay should be two total single-sided pages. 
• Format should be in Times font and 12 pt., double line spacing with a 1” margin. 
• Student name, school, and grade should be on the first page of the essay. 
• Please save the essay in a PDF or .doc format.
• Please submit a pdf, doc, or docx of your essay:  Contest Submission or go to the website https://www.mlkparadisevalley.org/submissions/

Essays will be judged on the following:

• Relevance – to topic, content, and clarity. 
• Focus and Coherence  – The ideas are related and well-supported from the introduction to the conclusion.
• Organization – The writer uses smooth transitions and clear ideas.
• Development of Ideas  – The writer uses specific details to develop ideas.
• Voice – The writer engages the reader with the choice of words, and the writer’s unique personality comes through.
• Conventions  – The writer uses correct spelling, grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure.

By submitting your essay, you approve the essay to be published and used in promotions, along with the student’s name, grade, and school. You are also committing to the original quality of the paper. Any papers that are not original will be automatically disqualified.

Please submit pdf, doc, or docx of your essay: Contest Submission

This event is sponsored by the Bahá’í Community of Paradise Valley and the Town of Paradise Valley.

Paradise Valley, AZ

MLK Celebration Sacramento

Pictured are the 2021 Essay Contest Winners with the Honorable Judge Vance Raye who presented the winners their awards.

Congratulations to the 2021 MLK Essay Contest Winners.

We are very pleased to announce the winners of the 8th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Essay Contest in conjunction with the MLK Celebration event. The essay contest was created to further engage our youth with Dr. King's legacy, his vision, and leadership that inspired a nation.  The 2021 MLK Essay Contest Theme: With COVID-19 Health guidelines in mind, describe an injustice that you see in today’s society and what you can do to address the issue and advancement of John Lewis’ call to action. High School Hang Trinh , West Campus High School (Sacramento City Unified) - 1st Place Briseyda Olivares Rodriguez , Foothill High School (Twin Rivers Unified) - 2nd Place Ben-Israel Gurjar, Hiram W. Johnson High School (Sacramento City Unified) - 3rd Place

Middle School Jack Simon , Merryhill Midtown Sacramento - 1st Place Miles Scaife , Harriet G. Eddy Middle School (Elk Grove Unified) - 2nd Place Sofia Zotov , Martin Luther King Jr. Technology Academy (Twin Rivers Unified) - 3rd Place

High School Division Hang Trinh, 1st Place High School Division

In today’s society, adults often experience various forms of injustice at work and in public. Likewise, children also undergo injustice in the form of bullying at school. In the case of bullying, an individual with more power unfairly harms one who is more vulnerable. In primary school, while waiting for my parents, I witnessed a scenario where an older student picked on a younger student. Witnessing the unjust act, I told myself that I could not remain silent even if it meant involving myself in trouble. Thus, I intervened and explained to the older boy how his actions could profoundly hurt the younger boy. Taking in my words, the older boy understood and quietly walked away. The younger boy then headed towards me with a relieved face, embraced, and thanked me.

At home, I told my parents the story. Coming to my cousins’ house, I told them the same story and the injustice behind bullying. By talking to my cousins, I realized that I have the power to influence others to end such an act of injustice. From there, whenever witnessing bullying scenarios, I step in and intervene. When interacting with younger kids, I inform them about bullying and its consequences.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Congressman John Lewis selflessly risked their lives to advocate for equality. As I support their mission through the simple acts of continuing to intervene in bullying scenarios and spreading the word, I hope that you can join me in ending bullying as well as other acts of injustice. Amid this health crisis, remember to practice social distancing and put on your mask before taking action! Together, humanity can further Dr. King, John Lewis, and other heroic activists’ mission in promoting equality. May the end of injustice come in the near future.

Briseyda Olivares Rodriguez,  2nd Place, High School Division “Never be afraid to make some good noise and good trouble, necessary trouble.” John  Lewis’s famous words resonate with me as I reflect deeply on a human injustice that is often  overlooked: “modern-day slavery,” or human trafficking. The first time I was exposed to human  trafficking was a few weeks ago in my health class. I learned that millions of vulnerable people  are forced or brainwashed into having sex, being an object of pornography, or doing labor for  traffickers’ profit. Many are oblivious to this issue because it is not addressed as frequently as it  should be.    California and Florida require human trafficking education in schools but I think that this  should be a nationwide requirement. I followed Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and John Lewis’s  teachings about taking action in the hope of making this a reality. I wrote to the U.S. Department  of Education to propose a law requiring human trafficking education in our nation’s schools. The  law should say that all schools need a set program to teach students in middle school and high  school about human trafficking, how to identify signs, and where to seek help. I am confident  that this will increase safety in our country, save people’s lives, encourage other countries to act,  and bring us one step closer to change. I truly hope that they find potential in this law and send it to Congress. I also motivated my school’s Friday Night Live Club to add human trafficking  information to the many issues we raise awareness about on social media. I firmly believe that it  is my duty to bring attention to this injustice in as many ways as possible. I am a small person in  a huge world but I know that these small steps can help us abolish this injustice. 

Ben-Israel Gurjar , 3rd Place High School Division

An injustice we see every day is racism. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and John Lewis played their part to end it, and in 1964 the civil rights law superseded all state and local laws requiring segregation. Yet racism never really ended. It was removed from the system but not from the hearts of people. We see it every day, everywhere, inside the walls of the court, employment, neighborhood, shops, workplace, and public transports.

The incident with George Floyd proved that we weren’t far from step one. There was still a long way to go in this fight against racism. John Lewis encouraged non-violence and peaceful protests, but how can you fight something that is hidden? You cannot see inside someone’s heart.

The first step you can take to stop this is to teach your children. Children are like empty vessels. You choose what to fill them with. They will follow the path you show them. Show your children the right path, so when they are old, they may not depart from it.

Step two is to stand up. Racism is hard to spot. If you see it, stand up and don’t be afraid. Do what is right, even if you have to do it alone. There is no neutral side in this war. If you are silent, then you are just part of the problem.

Step three is to stop judging an entire race depending on one person’s action. Learn to see, without seeing the race. Taking these steps is how we will shape the future that we can all look forward to. A future where people will not be judged by their race but by their character. In that, Dr. King’s dream will be fulfilled. 

Middle School Jack Simon, 1st  Place Middle School Division

Since the importation of African slaves early in America’s history, an implicit bias of Black Americans was created. Currently, racism appears as violent killings of unarmed African American men and women. Additionally, the struggle to get necessary PPE to Black Americans to survive the Covid-19 pandemic safely is a symptom of racism. Racism has sparked mostly peaceful protests across our country like the Black Lives Matter movement.

Today, racism continues to be an injustice, which is commonly fought within peaceful protests. The Covid-19 pandemic was just appearing in the US when the news of the killing of Ahmaud Aubrey surfaced. He was simply on a jog when he was shot by two white males in a pickup truck. In the summer, an iPhone video was released of three police officers on top of George Floyd, which resulted in his death. There were large marches to honor George Floyd and for people to voice their opinions about systemic racism in America. With Covid-19 roaring, the protests of George Floyd’s death against racism set an example of peaceful and safe protests. Many protestors wore masks and other PPE, setting an example for others to stand up for what is right, but also to protect fellow Americans. Just like MLK and John Lewis, peaceful and safe protests are the key to fixing what is wrong in our country.

T he legalization of gay marriage and other LGBTQ+ rights resulted from peaceful protests. What I can do to combat racism is to attend peaceful protests and other forums against racism. The countless protests against the killings of unarmed black men and women have led to laws being created to outlaw chokehold and no-knock warrants. Therefore, I should join peaceful and safe protests to combat racism in my community.

Miles Scaife, 2nd Place Middle School Division "You must be bold, brave, and courageous and find a way... to get in the way." This quote by John Lewis is something that everyone should try to live up to. He preached “get in trouble, necessary trouble” without violence just like Martin Luther King, Jr., and they both fought to end legalized racial segregation. He had extraordinary courageousness and leadership that helped with several protests to uphold the rights of colored US citizens. If we try to live up to John Lewis’s great words, then we should start small and work our way up to something bigger. Something small during these tough times would be interacting with lonely elderly people. There are multiple things that we can do to help in this small problem, but there are some that are more effective than others.

One way we can help elderly people during these tough times is to send them cards or video chat with them. For example, recently my grandpa was stuck in the hospital for 5 days, and for half of the time he was there he had no glasses, no way to contact anyone outside of the hospital and no entertainment. One could imagine that this is pretty lonely. My mom would make us call him everyday to check up on him and see if he’s okay, even if we didn’t want to. In the end, we made him feel a lot better since we interacted with him. If we just put a little joy in elderly people’s hearts by talking to them, then we can make them feel better. If we continue to follow the path of people like John Lewis or Martin Luther King, Jr., then we will fulfill a lot in life. The world would change for the better and people would act differently.

Sofia Zotov, 3rd  Place Middle School Division

In July 2018, John Lewis sent out a tweet with the hashtag #goodtrouble. Lewis stated, “When you see something that is not right, not fair, not just, you have to speak up. You have to say something; you have to do something.” Lewis epitomizes this and encourages us to not be silent. Lewis taught us persistence. He taught us that when a person has transformative ideas, they should not taper those ideas. Instead, they should push those ideas until others get on board. This is what John Lewis meant by #goodtrouble. Lewis also teaches us that age is nothing but a number and that young people have to be the change they want to see by pushing for equitable change, even if it means informing and standing up to older generations.

One person that has been encouraging me and teaching me to get into good trouble is my mother. The reason I chose my mother was because she always finds a way to connect and encourage me when I make a mistake. My mother always told me “No matter how tough the world is, never give up and to always forgive and always forget”. What my mother meant is that we are living in a very dangerous time right now. Even though it is tough right now, because of her advice, I will never give up. This world is dangerous and unpredictable, especially since there is a lot of harassment and racism between many people. Since Covid-19 started, people are starting to forget that America is a free country with a lot of opportunities. These include the voices of the young people to stand up and take charge. I am glad to have a mother that can speak to me and help me make the right decisions in my life.

Essay Contest Sponsored By

Alcalay Communications, Governors Inn Hotel and The Sacramento County Office of Education

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Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Poster & Essay Contest

Poster contest information.

The Brookings Human Rights Commission is using its annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Poster Competition to launch a new anti-bullying campaign titled “Promoting Empathy and Kindness (PEAK). ” 

Dr. King was a supporter of human rights and freedoms for all citizens. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day will be celebrated on January 15, 2024. 

Dr. King understood that if people could learn to see the world from another person's perspective and to have compassion for others, we would be better equipped to create a more just and peaceful world. Dr. King repeatedly emphasized the importance of treating others with kindness and empathy and reminded us of the power we hold within ourselves to practice peaceful problem solving and effect positive change.

All Brookings County students in grades K-12 are invited to choose one of the following quotes of Dr. King and create a graphic illustration of it that promotes kindness and empathy:

• “Life's most persistent and urgent question is: ‘What are you doing for others?’ ” 
• “Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend.”
• “The time is always right to do what is right.”
• “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
• “We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.”
• “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”

Entries will be judged on message, visual effectiveness, originality, skill, and appeal. Student artists will compete in the grade categories of elementary (K-3), intermediate (4-5), middle (6-8), and high school (9-12).

The following community partner organizations will serve as venues for contestants to learn about the competition, access art materials, create and submit their entries:

• Brookings Arts Council:  December 28, from 1 to 4 p.m. 
• South Dakota Art Museum:  December 18 – 23 and January 2 – 12 during regular museum hours
• Great Afterschool Place: Designated dates
• Boys and Girls Club:  Designated dates
• Brookings City and County Government Center (520 Third St.):   7 a.m. to 5 p.m. M-Th and 7 a.m. to 12 noon Friday.

POSTER DEADLINE: All poster entries are due before 12 Noon on Friday, January 12, 2024.

Entries that do not include the required contact information will not be considered. Only one entry per participant is permitted.

Cash prizes will be awarded for first ($25), second ($15) and third ($10) place in the categories of elementary, intermediate, middle, and high school students. There must be a minimum of four contestants per category for cash prizes to be awarded in each category. 

Winners will be notified by January 16, 2024. Awards will be presented by the Brookings Mayor at the January 23, 2024, Brookings City Council Meeting, where winning entries will be displayed. Winning artwork may also be featured in future PEAK Campaign materials.

Poster Contest Information (pdf)

ESSAY CONTEST INFORMATION

In celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the Brookings Human Rights Commission sponsors an annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day essay contest for all Brookings County school students in Grades 4-12.

These contests are designed for students to reflect on Dr. King’s ideas and the impact on our community through their contest entry.

ESSAY DEADLINE: All contest entries are due before 5 PM on Friday, December 22, 2023.

• Essays, along with entry information, must be emailed to [email protected] .

PROMPTS:  The 2024 contest prompts are:

• Intermediate School (Grades 4-5) : Identify two problems in your school, neighborhood, or community and what you would do to solve these problems. Include a quote from Dr. King and explain how it inspires your solution. [250-500 words; 1-2 pages double-spaced]
• Middle School (Grades 6-8) : Building off a quote from Dr. King, describe how you can help create a more just, inclusive, and peaceful society. How can you work with your peers to make a difference? Identify your own aspirations for your community and what Dr. King means to you. [500-750 words; 2-3 pages double-spaced]
• High School (Grades 9-12) : Incorporating a quote from Dr. King, explore how the principles of justice and oneness can be used to transform our divided world into a united one. Discuss how Dr. King's ideals, philosophy, and principles apply to our collective lives and impact your daily life. What solutions would you offer to promote peace and equity in your community? What would be the roles of young people and adults in implementing your solutions? [750-1,000 words; 3-4 pages double-spaced]

Winners will be notified by January 8, 2024.

• First- and second-place winners will be invited to read  their essays at the MLK "Marade" at South Dakota State University on January 15, 2024.  
• Awards will be p resented at the Brookings City Council meeting on January 23, 2024. Awardees will be asked to read their essays at the meeting.

Essay Contest Information (PDF)

Essay Judging Rubric

Award Winners

2022 Winners Press Release (PDF)

Poster - Grades K-1

• 1st Place: Norah Miller - Medary Elementary - Kindergarten (Image)
• 2nd Place: Shiloh Butzin - Dakota Prairie Elementary  - 1st Grade (Image)
• 3rd Place: Ana Kramer -  Dakota Prairie Elementary  - 1st Grade  (Image)
• Honorable Mention: Samara Sloss -  Dakota Prairie Elementary  - 1st Grade  (Image)

Poster - Grade 2

• 1st Place: Madilynn Doty -  Medary Elementary  (Image)
• 2nd Place: Tanner Frank -  Medary Elementary  (Image)
• 3rd Place: Naomi Nyongbela -  Medary Elementary  (Image)
• Honorable Mention: Elise Ulvestad -  Medary Elementary  (Image)

Poster - Advance

• 1st Place: Doug Hakeman (Image)
• 2nd Place: Matthew Lindberg (Image )
• 3rd Place: Shelly Egeberg (Image)
• Honorable Mention: Drew Maag (Image )

Essay - Middle School 

• 1st Place: Isabella Park - 8th grade, Mickelson Middle School (PDF)
• 2nd Place: Shae Lefers - 8th grade, Mickelson Middle School (PDF)
• 3rd Place: Madeline Enderson - 6th grade, Mickelson Middle School (PDF)
• Honorable Mention: Samuel Caugherty - 8th grade, Mickelson Middle School (PDF)

Watch Awards Presentation 2022

2021 Winners Press Release (PDF)

• 1st Place: Kendis Sackreiter (PDF)
• 2nd Place: Shae Lefers (PDF)
• 3rd Place: Alex Kidangathazhe Deepti (PDF)

Essay - High School

• 1st Place: Zoey Henderson (PDF)

Watch Awards Presentation 2021

2020 Winners Press Release (PDF)

Poster - Grade 4

• 1st Place: Tyler Davis - Camelot Intermediate School (Image)
• 2nd Place: Dante Martinson - Camelot Intermediate School (Image)
• 3rd Place: Shawna Nupen - Camelot Intermediate School (Image)
• Honorable Mention: Allyson Couser - Camelot Intermediate School (Image)

Poster - Grade 5  

• 1st Place: Tavyn Jae Everding - Camelot Intermediate School (Image)
• 2nd Place: Autumn Brink - Camelot Intermediate School (Image)
• 3rd Place: Honor Naughton - Camelot Intermediate School (Image)
• Honorable Mention: Alexis (Lexi) Erp - Camelot Intermediate School (Image)
• 1st Place: Anika Hooda -  6th grade, Mickelson Middle School (PDF)
• 2nd Place: Shae Lefers -  6th grade, Mickelson Middle School (PDF)
• 3rd Place: Taya Haselhorst -  6th grade, Mickelson Middle School (PDF)
• 1st Place: Grace Enz -  10th grade, Brookings High School (PDF)
• 2nd Place: Cherish Stern -  11th grade, Brookings High School (PDF)
• 3rd Place: Victoria Diersen -  12th grade, Brookings High School (PDF)

Kosta Diamantis arrested on federal charges

Konstantinos “Kosta” Diamantis, a former Connecticut lawmaker and deputy budget director, was arrested Thursday morning by federal agents under a sealed grand jury indictment, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office.

Diamantis is to be arraigned in U.S. District Court in Hartford later today, where the indictment listing the charges against him is expected to be unsealed, spokesman Tom Carson said Thursday.

The charges are the result of a years-long investigation into Diamantis, who ran Connecticut’s school construction program and oversaw other projects for Governor Ned Lamont’s administration until he was fired from one state position and resigned from another in October 2021.

Diamantis’ arrest makes him the highest-ranked state official to face federal charges since Governor John G. Rowland.

Diamantis resigned from his job overseeing the school construction program in October 2021, shortly after the state received the first of several grand jury subpoenas that asked for emails and records related to his work in state government.

At the same time, Lamont removed Diamantis from his appointed position as deputy budget director based on his attempts to secure a job for his daughter in the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney . He was suspended with pay from the school construction post.

Rather than accept the suspension, Diamantis retired. When he tried to rescind his retirement, then-DAS Commissioner Josh Geballe denied it.

Diamantis then filed a grievance with the state Employee Review Board , alleging he was targeted by the administration after he complained that two of Lamont’s top aides, Geballe and Paul Mounds, had been disrespectful to OPM Secretary Melissa McCaw. The grievance was denied.

More school contracts scrutinized

The FBI investigation into the state-financed school construction grants overseen by Diamantis began in 2021 when a federal grand jury issued a subpoena for all emails, text messages and attachments involving Diamantis, other members of his Office of School Construction Grants & Review (OSCG&R) team and a broad range of construction projects.

Among the projects that drew federal authorities’ interest was the Birch Grove School in Tolland, which was constructed on an emergency basis after the foundation of the existing school was found to be crumbing. Diamantis helped to award no-bid contracts for that project to D’Amato Construction of Bristol and Construction Advocacy Professionals, or CAP, which hired his daughter. The contract to build a new school on the site was worth $46 million.

Construction Advocacy Professionals, which was owned by Antonietta DiBenedetto, received two no-bid contracts worth a combined $530,000 to oversee the building of the Birch Grove School.

Tolland officials gave CAP a $70,000 contract to oversee installation of portable classrooms on June 20, 2019, according to contracts obtained by the Connecticut Mirror.

Weeks later, a contract amendment, giving CAP another $460,000 worth of work, was signed on Sept. 18, 2019 for the construction of a new Birch Grove school.

Federal authorities sent an addendum to that first subpoena eight days later asking the state to prioritize 19 search terms — among them Anastasia, Antonietta, DiBenedetto-Roy, Construction Advocacy Professionals and Birch Grove.

Tolland school officials said they were pressured to hire whoever Diamantis wanted, and they went along with the plan, they said, in order to secure the state funding for the new school. The state eventually paid the entire cost to demolish the old school and build the new one.

“Representatives of the town and the board felt they had no real choice as to CAP and D’Amato because Mr. Diamantis routinely emphasized there would be detrimental effects to the project if Tolland chose contractors or consultants other than CAP or D’Amato,” Tolland Superintendent of Schools Walt Willets said in a statement.

During that same time frame CAP was working at Birch Grove, it hired Anastasia Diamantis to work for them.

Anastasia Diamantis told investigators with former U.S. Attorney Stanley Twardy Jr.’s office that the owner of CAP “called her out of the blue and offered her the job.”

Twardy was hired by Lamont to investigate how Anastasia got a job in then-Chief State’s Attorney Richard Colangelo’s office at the same time Colangelo was lobbying Diamantis for pay raises for prosecutors.

The federal investigation into the school construction grant program quickly spread from Tolland to several other school projects, including Bristol, Groton, Enfield and Hartford.

Officials in Bristol and Groton said they were pressured to scrap competitive bids for school-related construction projects in early 2020 and instead told to award multimillion-dollar contracts to companies pre-selected by the state, echoing claims made by other Connecticut towns.

They said they were instructed to give demolition and hazardous waste removal work to two companies — AAIS of West Haven and Bestech of Windsor — that had existing emergency contracts with the state.

A letter obtained by the CT Mirror alleges that Diamantis was responsible for the “directive” that was issued to city officials in Bristol in April 2020.

Both Bristol and Groton defied the Diamantis directive and hired the lowest bidders.

“I do remember there was some talk about whether we had to dispense with the low bidder because the second-lowest bidder was on a state contract,” said Ellen Zoppo-Sassu, the former mayor of Bristol.

“I pushed back, because if there is a low bidder, there is a low bidder,” she added. “It was a very confusing thing right as we were beginning.”

New initiative

But those projects were just the beginning. Over the next two years, Diamantis and Mike Sanders, the man who had overseen the state’s emergency hazardous waste contract for years with little oversight, attempted to direct millions of dollars in demolition and abatement work at local schools to AAIS and Bestech, records show.

Emails, meeting minutes and other documents obtained by The Connecticut Mirror show the push to award contracts to the two hazmat companies went well beyond what was previously reported and continued even after complaints from other contractors reached the highest levels of Lamont’s administration .

All told, the two companies got more than $12 million in school demolition without being the low bidder and in some cases without bidding at all, records show.

A frustrated Hartford School Building Committee member questioned how AAIS ended up on the Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School project and said, “It seems our hands are tied” and that he couldn’t wait to not have to pay them anymore.

The MLK project was one of the first where the new “initiative” was put into action. But in an email in early 2020, Sanders made it clear that the plan was to use that small list of companies to perform every school demolition and abatement project.

“Have no doubt in your mind. ALL school construction abatement and demolition is going to be done by the state contract!” Sanders wrote in an email to a construction manager in Groton .