By AFRO Staff

The women of the Prince William County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority (PWCAC-DST) and the Delta Research and Educational Foundation, have come together once again for the 33rd annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  Youth Oratorical Competition and Program. 

The event will begin at 11 a.m. on January 16, the National Day of Service in honor of King. Those who wish to view the finalists deliver their speech can tune in to the PWCAC-DST YouTube page, where the contest will be broadcast live for free. 

Scholars of Prince William’s County had to be in grades six through 12 in order to participate in the contest. The students were asked to write on the theme, “A View of the Promised Land,” and “present their views on the life and impact of Dr. King’s legacy,” according to information released in a statement by PWCAC-DST.  

Viewers will use a “special text-to-vote feature while watching the program,” which will allow them “an opportunity to vote for their favorite middle school and high school orator.”

In addition to highlighting the work of the six student orators, the event will also include selections from the MLK Community Choir. 

The six finalists are: 

  • Shavonne Davis, Patriot High School
  • Alyssa M. Godfrey, Benton Middle School
  • Sakshi Gowda, Ronald Wilson Reagan Middle School
  • Myles Lanier, Manassas Park High School 
  • Kaomi Ninasaume, Gainesville Middle School
  • Brooklynn Saunders, Gar-Field High School

The 2023 Youth Oratorical Competition and Program is significant to the women of the Prince William County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.

“The chapter’s first event after being chartered in December 1984 was a program to honor Dr. King on his birthday,” according to information released in a PWCAC-DST statement. 

“Beginning in 1985, before the national holiday, the first five years the program presented prominent local and national adult speakers. Then in 1991, the student oratorical competition became the program’s highlight,” shared PWCAC-DST Chapter President Sharon Andrews, in a statement.  

Andrews noted how the change in the contest has allowed the chapter to increase their engagement with the community– specifically with young people in middle and high school.

“The chapter hosts the MLK program each year, but the support from the three local school systems, teachers, coaches, and principals, and the judges, sponsors, donors, and audience make the program possible year after year,” said Andrews.    

Immediately after the Youth Oratorical Competition and Program concludes, the ladies of PWCAC-DST encourage all local residents to make their way to 2701 Neabsco Commons Place, Suite 150 in Woodbridge. There, from 2 to 5 p.m., the women are accepting donations of “ready-to-eat” meals “applesauce or fruit cups, microwaveable mac and cheese bowls or heat-and-sip soups, granola or other snack bars, and other foods that require minimal or no preparation to eat and enjoy,” according to information sent to the AFRO. 

The donations will go to Northern Virginia Food Rescue, which helps those facing food insecurity in the Northern Virginia area. To learn more about the oratorical program hosted by PWCAC or to donate, please visit www.pwcacdst.org/mlk.

Help us Continue to tell OUR Story and join the AFRO family as a member –subscribers are now members!  Join here!  

The post Oratorical competition finalists to share their “View of the Promised Land” on MLK Day of Service appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers .

This post was originally published on this site