For the 11th consecutive year, North County Churches Uniting for Racial Harmony and Justice (NCCU) is co-sponsoring the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Celebration at St. Louis Community College at Florissant Valley in the Terry Fisher Theatre on January 15 at 3 p.m.
One of the highlights of this Celebration is NCCU’s Annual Oratory Essay Contest winners who will present their winning essays. This Ccontest is based upon some aspect of Dr. King’s life and work. This years theme was: “Dr. King’s Unfinished Business: Promoting Economic Empowerment.”
For the last 11 years, NCCU has selected five winners in various categories, and winners can be in one of five categories, senior, adult, grades 1-5, 6-8, and 9-12. In the past the group had winners in each of these categories. In fact, one year they had an 82-year-old winner, and they have had a number of winners in the adult category. However, they always select some winners from the student categories. This year they had one adult winner, Ms. Rashawn Johnson, a teacher at Berkeley Middle School, in the Ferguson-Florissant School District.
Other winners were: Grace Bishop, in the 1-5 grade category, a student in Lawson Elementary School, Hazelwood School District; Wynter March in the 6-8 category, a student in Combs Elementary School, Ferguson-Florissant School District. The final two winners were in grades 9-12 and were Kourtney Harvey, a student at McCluer North High School in the Ferguson-Florissant School District and David Kirkman, a student at McCluer High School in the Ferguson-Florissant School District.
The adult winner will be given a gift certificate of $100 and the students will be given prizes of $100 savings bond, and each will be presented with a winner’s certificate after their presentations during the Dr. King Celebration.
These winners were selected from a group of 41 essays submitted based upon a contest held at John Knox Presbyterian Church. President Rance Thomas say, “This is difficult process because it is often difficult to select only five winners and many of the essays are excellent. In fact, often some members on the Selection Committee want to select more than five because of the excellent essays that are presented.”
The committee selects a certain number to be heard from the essays submitted, and essayists that make the finalist present their essays before the judges, parents, teachers, educations, and friends during the competition.
This years Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Celebration will be held on January 15 at 3 p.m. and will be followed with a reception. In addition to Essay Winners making their presentations, the keynote speaker will bCarol Daniel, radio and television personality. Music will be provided by one of NCCU’s member churches, Olivet Missionary Choir.
For further information, please contact Rance Thomas, at 314 238-6828.
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