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MLK Jr. Association of Steubenville honors winning essayists

STUDENT RECOGNITION — Steubenville City School students were recognized for their essays by the Martin Luther King Association of Steubenville. Ten students from kindergarten through high school submitted entries following the theme “Bridging the Divide: Dare to Dream” and received cash prizes and certificates for a job well done. On hand for the awards were, front from left, Navi Pearson, Jayce Harton, Joia Rose, Shaylee Bland and Novaleigh King; middle, Lorraine Kellermier, Nyasia Harris and Alisandra Sagun; and back, Jim Baber and Sharon Kirtdoll, president and treasurer of the Martin Luther King Jr. Association, respectively. Students Autumn Robinson and Jazmyn Brown also were winners. -- Contributed

STEUBENVILLE — Youth in Steubenville City Schools were lauded for their moving essays depicting the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as part of an annual contest.

Ten students in kindergarten through high school were recognized by the Martin Luther King Jr. Association of Steubenville during a gathering with their parents at the school board office, where they received cash prizes and certificates for their stirring words following the theme “Bridging The Divide: Daring to Dream Again.”

The event, which was planned around King’s birthday, was led by association President Jim Baber and member Angela Kirtdoll with SCS teacher Crystal Wicker as essay contest coordinator while a committee selected the top entries in kindergarten, grades one through three, fourth and fifth, grades six through eight and high school.

“The essay contest is part of a statewide event and the subject matter comes from the National Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Non-Violence in Atlanta,” explained association Treasurer Sharon Kirtdoll. “We’ve been part of the school system for 10 years, and Steubenville City Schools has been very good in cooperating with us for this annual event. This is in the hopes that children know the name of Martin Luther King at an early age.”

First-place recipients earned $100 while second-place winners received $50. Awardees included Jayce Harton of McKinley STEM Academy, first, and Autumn Robinson, second, East Garfield Elementary, kindergarten; Joia Rose of Pugliese West Elementary, first, and Novaleigh King, McKinley STEM, second, grades one through three; Nyasia Harris, Harding Middle School, first, and Navi Pearson, second, Pugliese West, grades four and five; Jazmyn Brown, first, and Shaylee Bland, second, both of Harding, grades sixthrough eight; and Lorraine Kellermier, first, and Alisandra Sagun, second, Steubenville High School.

Baber congratulated the youth for a job well done.

“Our purpose this year is unity and ‘Bridging the Divide: Daring to Dream.’ There are things to dream about,” he said, encouraging the students to succeed in school and become leaders of tomorrow.

The students were then given an opportunity to read their essays and share how King inspired them.

“(Dr. King) wanted Black and white people to all be treated the same and stand up for yourself, just like me,” said Jace Harton. “He believed everyone should love each other, just like me.”

Joia Rose highlighted King’s roles as a pastor, activist, role model and family man who urged peaceful protests in the fight for equality. She said he “was arrested many times and never gave up because he believed people should be treated equal.”

“Dr. Martin Luther King was known for fighting for equal rights for all people,” read Novaleigh King. “He used his talent to teach people about civil injustice. He believed all people should be treated the same no matter what they looked like.”

Nyasia Harris noted that King wanted people to come together and not be separate and work to overcome their differences, adding, “We will always be different and should be proud of who we are.”

“Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a man who tried to bring together the people of the United States,” said Navi Pearson. “He spoke up for people who were not treated fair. Dr. Martin Luther King tried to make a bridge in a divided America. I think we are trying to bridge the divide in America today. I think we need to be kind and respectful to one another.”

“To me, bridging the divide is what Martin Luther King Jr. wanted for the world. He wanted an equal world,” said Shaylee Bland. “He saw a world of diversity.”

“Martin Luther King had a dream for sons of former slaves and from slave owners to sit at the table together,” said Lorraine Kellermier, who added that people needed to change their negative thinking and work for peace. “The eyes of criticism will continue to kill … and heartless words and actions can hurt a person. If Martin Luther King sacrificed his life for his dream, people are underestimating the meaning of it. (His) birthday hasn’t been observed to the extent it deserves.”

“To be an American means to be free. King’s dream was that one day all children would live in a better world. In today’s world, there are strides and unfortunate struggles to realize the dream,” added Allisandra Sagun. “It is our duty as Americans to carry on his dream.”

She concluded that King’s legacy brought forth the election of President Barack Obama and the addition of Justices Ketanji Brown-Jackson and Sonia Sotomayor to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Selected essays will be read during the Pathfinders awards assembly at Steubenville High School on Feb. 17.

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