Students shine at 40th Annual MLK Celebration and Youth Oratorical Competition

By J. Pamela Stills
Special to the AFRO

Prince William County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. (PWCAC-DST) hosted the 40^th annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  (MLK) Celebration and Youth Oratorical competition.  According to the PWCAC-DST’s website, the goal of the oratorical competition is to “celebrate and sustain Martin Luther King’s spirit of optimism, public service, racial harmony and human rights through the voices of youth.”

Finalists from the middle school contestants included: Soluchi Eze, Benton Middle School; Marian NanaAcquah, Graham Park Middle School; Brianna McGlawn, Manassas Park Middle School; Chizaram Felix-Ugorji, Pennington Traditional School; Auston-Eastwood Atuwein, Potomac Middle School; Ezana Tesfaye, Mary G. Porter Traditional School; and, Liza-Joi Dingle, Rippon Middle School.  Three were selected to compete during the program: Soluchi Eze, Chizaram Felix-Ugorji, and Ezana Tesfaye.

Finalists from the high schools included: Alyssa Godfrey, Charles J. Colgan High School; Naomi Samuel, Battlefield High School; Miotisoa Randrianantenaina, Unity Reed High School; Juniper Adams, Gar~Field Senior High School; Jordyn Nasbitt, Gainesville High School; Rabab Raza, Osbourn Park High School; and, Brooklyn Rayner, Forest Park High School.  Three were selected to compete during the program: Naomi Samuel, Jordyn Nesbitt, and Rabab Raza.

The orators spoke on the topic of “Fulfilling the Promise of Democracy: My Voice, My Choice, My Future.”  Judges for the competition included Marie Barnes, Dr. Joseph Boutte, Tisha Lewis Griffith, Norman Jones, Charles Lamb, Dr. DaBeth Manns, Seth Opoku-Yeboah, and Taina Smits.  Dr. Mattie Fallen served as the Mistress of Ceremony.

Prior to the start of the program, there was a presentation of the colors by the Woodbridge Boy Scout Troop that was announced by Dr. Vanessa Gattis, U.S. Army Colonel (Retired). Musical performances and a Drum Major Salute were also a part of the opening ceremonies.

Before announcing the winner of the oratorical competition, winners of the elementary writing contest were announced.  One of the winners was London Lewis, a fifth grade student at Lake Ridge Elementary School.  London won third place and when her name was called, London gave a small scream and then ran on stage, a huge smile on her face.  London could be heard saying “I made it.”

A special recognition was given to Tara Funches, the oratorical coach at Graham Park Middle School.  She retires this year; having served 24 years as a coach.

Marian NanaAcquah and Juniper Adams received the Judges Choice Honorable Mention Award for content or style that impressed the judges at the regional competition. They received a monetary award and certificate.

Winners of the best delivered speech at the regional competition were Ezana Tesfaye (Middle School) and Jordyn Nesbitt (High School).  They both received a monetary award.

The finalists of the oratorical competition were judged on content, delivery and use of language during their speech.  Each finalist received a monetary award and a book of MLK’s speeches by Cythina Chambliss, President of the League of Women Voters.  Each finalist also received a congressional record certificate from Congressman Eugene Vindman, 7^th Congressional District.

Winners of the annual MLK oratorical competition were Ezana Tesfaye (middle school) and Rabab Raza (high school).  The winners received a monetary award and the Drum Major Award, which is an additional monetary award from the Bagnerise Foundation.

The MLK program was held at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Triangle, Virginia where Rev. Dr. Alfred Jones, Jr., is Pastor and Deaconess Goldie Jones is First Lady.

The post Students shine at 40th Annual MLK Celebration and Youth Oratorical Competition appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

This post was originally published on this site