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Winners Named at Statewide MLK Oratorical Contest
Special to The Truth
Ohio students inspired by the lessons and legacy of Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. presented original speeches on his
teachings during the 16th Annual Statewide MLK
Oratorical Contest held this month in Columbus.
Twenty-two regional contest winners from grades kindergarten
through 12 spoke before family, friends and judges at the
King Arts Complex.
Speakers were judged on performance, originality and
composition.
The following speakers placed first, second and third in
their respective divisions:
Senior Division (grades nine through 12)
First place – Holly Warthem, 15, 10th-grader,
Lima Senior High School, Lima; second place – Teccorra Bracy,
17, 11th-grader, Harding High School, Marion;
third place – Ayobami Balogun, 16, 11th-grader,
Eastmoor Academy High School, Columbus.
Junior Division (grades six through eight)
First place – Bre’Anna Walker, 13, seventh-grader, Columbus
City Preparatory School for Girls, Columbus; second place –
Morayo Obayemi, 14, eighth-grader, Columbus City Preparatory
School for Girls, Columbus; third place – Cydney Platt, 11,
sixth-grader, Columbus Academy, Columbus.
Intermediate Division (grades three through five)
First place – Marlin Yarborough, 10, fifth-grader, Mansion
Day School, Columbus; second place – Mia Kraus, 10,
fifth-grader, Clinton Elementary School, Columbus; third
place – Alyssa Warthem, 10, fourth-grader, Heir Force
Community School, Lima.
Primary Division (grades kindergarten through two)
First place – Ezell Matchett, 7, second-grader, Heir Force
Community School, Lima; second place – Nathan Edwards, 7,
second-grader, Emmanuel Christian Academy, Akron; third
place – Elena Earley, 7, first-grader, Clinton Elementary
School, Columbus.
First-place finishers are invited to speak at the 2016 Ohio
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Commemorative Celebration on Jan. 14 in downtown Columbus.
The celebration and oratorical contest are sponsored by the
Ohio Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission. The
commission is housed in the Equal Opportunity Division of
the Ohio Department of Administrative Services.
“Just like Dr. King, these young people showed courage and
determination. The way they hopped on stage showed they are
the leaders of their generation,” said the Rev. Joel L.
King, Jr., vice chairman of the Ohio Dr. Martin Luther King,
Jr. Holiday Commission.
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