BY EVELYN GUERRA, Neighborhood News Bureau
Tyna Middleton, the Enoch Davis Center Senior Advisory Council Secretary, and Virginia Scott shared a hug before Scott gave the event history. Scott is the president of the St. Petersburg Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Organization, Inc. She has been part of the organization since this event began 32 years ago.
The Martin Luther King Jr. High School Essay Contest bring students from various high schools to participate, and Scott emphasized how important it is for these students.
“The youth are contributing to the community and society,” Scott said. “These students want to do it; they want to make it good.”
She also said that this is an important event because of the kind of how the general public can act.
“All of the years are about young people beginning to serve,” Scott said. “To become more of an individual in a society where you follow your peers.”
Contribution to society
At the 32nd Annual MLK Essay Contest, Virginia Scott, President of the St. Petersburg Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Organization Inc., spoke to the attendees about the history of the event.
Scott has been involved since the very beginning and enjoys to hear what the students write every year.
“The youth are contributing to the community and society,” Scott said. “These students want to do it; they want to make it good.”
The event is hosted by the Enoch Davis Center and is sponsored by a few other groups such as the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
First speech
Deondrick Harper delivered his speech first. He is in 10th grade at Gibbs High School and was unsure at first.
“It went pretty good,” Harper said. “I was nervous at first, but after I got some of my essay out I felt more comfortable.”
Harper wrote his piece on which Martin Luther King Jr. techniques society can use for peace and justice. He covered recent police brutality and how he thinks we are closer to eliminating racism than we think.
Harper noticed that what he thought was most important about this contest in the community.
“We’re letting people know what is going on in the world, it is the most important win or lose,” Harper said.
Harper was awarded honorable mention at the end of the night and $25.
Life of a hero
Aysiah Pagan, a sophomore at Gibbs High school, presented second. “I was nervous because of stage fright but I think it went well,” she said.
Pagan wrote her essay on how love should be our race, and peace be our religion.
“We’re remembering what MLK did and what he died for, we’re remembering to have love in this world,” Pagan said.
She was awarded third place for her essay and given $75.
First prize
Daniela Pepe, a ninth grader from Gibbs High School, was the third student to present her essay for the MLK High School Essay Contest.
Pepe spoke about how silence is poison to a good cause. She was trying something different.
“I am used to singing at school, but not public speaking, so it’s a new experience,” Pepe said.
Pepe thinks this local essay contest is doing good things.
“Everyone that writes this essay is trying to resolve the conflict,” Pepe said.
Pepe received first place in the essay contest and won $200. She also won two tickets to sit at the annual MLK Leadership Breakfast, Monday.
