Palmetto Youth Center's MLK essay contest asks about importance of speaking up
MANATEE -- Just under three weeks remain for Manatee County middle and high school students to pen their submissions for the 15th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Essay and Speech competition.
The annual competition, run by the Palmetto Youth Center, not only asks students to write a 500- to 700-word essay on a topic inspired by MLK but to also be able to deliver that essay in front of an audience.
This year, students are asked to explain what the MLK's quote "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter" means to them.
Organizer Patricia Johnson said she expects some amazing results.
"I think this might be a very timely topic," she said. "We give them a topic and there's so much latitude in what they want to write about."
Johnson expects bullying to be a big topic in essays this year. She also said the recent issues at the University of Missouri may come into play for some of the older students who may tune in to news reports.
A group of Missouri students, including players on the football team, recently protested the school's president, Tim Wolfe, who students said helped foster a racist environment on campus. Ultimately, a group of football players said they would refuse to take the field unless Wolfe vacated his seat. He did.
"This topic is about the importance of speaking up," Johnson said, pointing to the actions of the students on campus.
The essays are due Dec. 4 and finalists will be notified by Jan. 1. Any middle or high school students in Manatee County is eligible to participate. Last year, four girls from Palmetto High School swept the high school category, taking home the first, second, third and honorable mention prizes.
"We've always had a really good relationship with Palmetto High," Johnson said.
Johnson works with teachers at the middle and high schools to spread the word. Some teachers assign the essay as coursework, but others pass along information and students who are interested can enter the competition. Last year, about 250 students entered the competition.
Finalists chosen based on their essays will compete Jan. 7 in the speech portion of the contest at the Palmetto Youth Center. The winner from each level will read their essay at the annual Martin Luther King banquet Jan. 15 and walk away with $150, a new laptop and printer.
Essays must be original, typed and double-spaced and include the student's name, home address, home phone number, school name, grade level and an email address. Essays can be sent to the Palmetto Youth Center, attention: Essay Contest, P.O. Box 608, Palmetto 34221.
Meghin Delaney, education reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7081. Follow her on Twitter@MeghinDelaney.
This story was originally published November 16, 2015 at 5:42 PM with the headline "Palmetto Youth Center's MLK essay contest asks about importance of speaking up ."