2022 Brown County MLK Celebration: Poster, essay, poetry contest winners
GREEN BAY - The winners of the Brown County MLK Celebration poster and creative writing contest were announced Saturday during the 27th annual event that honors the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.
Students in grades kindergarten through 12th grade at schools within Brown County and Oneida Nation were invited to participate in the contest by submitting an illustration, creative writing or narrative on this year's theme of "The people's march continues ..."
That phrase "pays homage to the struggles of the past while reflecting on the importance of creating a more just and harmonious society," according to a news release from the Brown County MLK Celebration Committee.
The first-place entries from each grade group are below and a list of the second- and third-place finishers and honorable mentions, as well as some of the posters.
Grades 10-12
First place: Lakshman Mallela, Ashwaubenon High School, poem.
"Unforgettable"
walking
talking
expressing
being
Our Freedom.
All
Taken for granted
Forgotten.
however,
we can't forget
the unforgettable
their march for freedom
(we are) their legacy
We continue on to honor the past
We continue on for the future
our protest
our struggle
our march
We as a people will march
Until Change is Achieved
And Freedom is freed
Second place: Aidan Irvin, John Dewey Academy of Learning, Green Bay School District, poster.
Third place: Joseph Stumpf, Notre Dame Academy, poem
Honorable mentions:
Nora Oleniczak, Green Bay Preble High School, essay.
Cara Sohee Wreen, Bay Port High School, essay.
Emily Bruss, Pulaski High School, essay.
Grades 7-9
First place: Eric N. Gichobi, De Pere Middle School, poem.
"The March"
I saw the march.
The start of a movement, a dream. A quarter-million people walked down Constitution and Independence Avenue, the roads that started a call for equality.
I saw the march.
The hands of whites and blacks, men and women, children and adults, citizens and celebrities, held together by the same ideals.
I saw the march.
Together, they stood on the memorial of the one who had rooted for their freedom, yet they still were not free.
I saw the march.
There, a man shared his dream, a dream he wished to see happen during his lifetime.
I saw the march.
The Chicago Open Housing Movement, led by Dr. King and other leaders, fought for the right to be fairly employed and housed.
I saw the march.
The Montgomery bus boycott, where African Americans refused to enter public transportation for over a year until the country's leaders enabled equality.
I see the march.
For the past year, in the populated cities of America, nearly 26 million people of all colors, religions, and cultures united to protest the unjust deaths of fellow humans.
I see the march.
Celebrities, artists, actors, social media influencers: for the voices that could not be heard, they spoke.
I see the march.
The internet became our most formidable weapon. Millions of people post and repost, refusing to let the movement die.
I see the march.
On the lawns of my neighbors, advertisements on billboards. On signs outside buildings showing support.
I see the march.
There is so much I can do. For every person I speak to, I prolong the march. The march is no longer simply a physical protest. It is a movement, a movement that should not — can not — die.
I am the march.
I am one among many, but I still count. Dr. King and many others started the march. It is my duty to continue the march. It is our duty to carry on the march until the day where equality is routine, a day that could happen after our lifetime, as it was for Malcolm and Dr. King.
But until that day, we will continue to walk. We continue to march.
We are the march.
Second place: Charlotte Bressers, De Pere Middle School, poem.
Third place: Ana Leigh Perez, Washington Middle School, Green Bay School District, poem.
Honorable mentions:
Meghan Bruss, Bay View Middle School, Howard-Suamico district, poster.
Layla Busch-Hill, John Dewey Academy of Learning, poster.
Keldon Burton, John Dewey Academy of Learning, essay.
Grades 4-6
First place: Zeenia K. Ahmad, Leonardo da Vinci School for Gift Learners, Green Bay district, poem.
"King's legacy shall continue ..."
He is a hero, a leader, and a preacher.
He marched day in, day out for our future.
He is one who fought for his men.
Rallying on the streets with his clan.
For his people, he had a big dream.
That everyone stands equal and tall
So that nobody will ever fall.
Equal rights and justice will be for all.
Fight with words not your fists.
What he brought to us is an ultimate gift.
One day this place will become a peaceful land.
That will give his life a meaningful end.
His message to us was loud and clear.
In the eyes of the lord, we are all kind and dear.
You shall never be forgotten Mr. King.
For your words shall always ring.
The march shall continue.
To ensure there is peace and harmony within you.
Second place: Amelia Thom, Foxview Intermediate School, De Pere School District, essay.
Third place: Ileana C. Pagan, Lombardi Middle School, Green Bay district, poster
Honorable mentions:
Adyson Webster, Lombardi Middle School, poster.
Mateo Guevara-Derber, Langlade Elementary School, Ashwaubenon School District, essay.
Xavier Thornton, Foxview Intermediate School, essay.
Grades K-3
First place: Jusneyling Alfaro Ordonez, Tank Elementary School, Green Bay district, poster.
Second place: Elena Sanchez, Tank Elementary School, poster.
Third place: Emily Horn, Valley View Elementary School, Ashwaubenon district, poster.
Honorable mentions:
Ava Horn, Valley View Elementary School, poster.
Mekyle K. Ahmad, Leonardo da Vinci School for Gifted Learners, poem.
Jade Estrada Mora, Tank Elementary School, poster.
Contact Peter Frank at (920) 431-8311 or pfrank@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @PeterFrankGB.
This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Brown County MLK Celebration: Poster, essay, poetry contest winners
