Winners Named In Norwalk Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Essay Contest

NORWALK, CT — Nine Norwalk Public School students have been announced as the winners of the 2021 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. essay contest, which was sponsored by the Norwalk Public Library, Norwalk Branch NAACP and Norwalk school system.

The Norwalk students wrote essays from their points of view about the significance of Dr. Martin Luther King's Civil Rights mission. The winning entries are:

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WINNERS

FIRST PLACE
Riley Wiggins
Columbus Magnet School | 3rd Grade

SECOND PLACE
Ariana Brown
Kendall College and Career Academy | 5th Grade

THIRD PLACE
Guadalupe Trejo Reyes
Kendall College and Career Academy | 5th Grade

MIDDLE SCHOOL WINNERS

FIRST PLACE
Joalys Rosario
Roton Middle School | 6th Grade

SECOND PLACE
Shanice Daniels
Roton Middle School | 6th Grade

THIRD PLACE
Isla Tucker
Roton Middle School | 6th Grade

HIGH SCHOOL WINNERS

FIRST PLACE
Denali Baker
Norwalk High School | 12th Grade

SECOND PLACE
Ava Massucco
Brien McMahon High School | 9th Grade

THIRD PLACE
Joanna Susan Gentle
Norwalk High School |9th Grade

A video of the students reading their winning entries can be found in at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdD2eINS44s

This is from the announcement:

Mahatma Gandhi is known for saying, "You must be the change you wish to see in the world." Dr. King credits Gandhi for influencing his political and social views. Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech, delivered during the March on Washington on August 28, 1963, called for freedom, civil and economic rights, and an end to racism in the United States. He said, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."

Senator Chris Murphy hosted his fifth annual state-wide essay contest this year in honor of Dr. King's legacy. Last year Alyssa Monteiro, Wolfpit Elementary School, was one of three winners from the fourth congressional district. Natalie Ochoa, Brien McMahon High School, was one of three winners from the district in 2019. Kristopher Flores, Roton Middle School, and Latrel Stewart, Brien McMahon High School, were 2018 winners. While there were no Norwalk students to place in the first and fifth annual state contest, there were nine winners in the local contest.

"I appreciate the efforts of all those who entered the 2021 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. essay contest and to the NAACP and numerous volunteers who helped organize the contest and score the submissions. Our students are the future leaders in Norwalk and around the globe. They will help bring real change to this world. Congratulations to the nine winners of this year’s essay contest. I encourage everyone to find time to read the impactful words written by our students," said Norwalk Mayor Harry W. Rilling.

"Congratulations to all the students who took the time to submit an essay," said Sherelle Harris, Norwalk Public Library Interim Director. "I am so very pleased that we were able to offer a collaborative program to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in Norwalk this year. I was a little worried that the pandemic might prevent this, but everyone pulled to make it happen. The Norwalk Public Library management team--Laurie Iffland, Cynde Lahey, and Vicki Oatis, one of the contest's judges--contributed the idea to focus on the pillars of Dr. King's legacy: Educational equity, environmental equity, and racial justice equity."

There were 84 elementary school entries, 41 middle school entries, and 14 high school entries. The judges were paired per category to choose the top six essays in their respective categories. Thereafter, all the judges came together to decide the top three in each category. They had a weekend to complete the process.

"Reading dozens of student essays left me with a strong feeling of optimism about the future because so many students successfully connected what they had learned about Dr. King’s activism not just to an historical understanding of the civil rights challenges of his time but also to their own personal life aspirations and as well as to their interpretation of current events, such as the recent assault on the U.S. Capitol," said Alex Knopp, Library Board President.

"Judging the Martin Luther King, Jr. essay contest was one of the most moving and inspirational acts I've participated in as an educator in a very long time," said James Martinez, Director of School Counseling K-12 Department of Specialized Learning and Student Services at Norwalk Public Schools. In a time when there is a calling for us to examine our moral compass toward treating humanity more deeply, I had the honor of reading essays written by Norwalk's most precious commodity, our elementary school students. Dr. King would be so very proud of the influence he has had on our youth after so many decades. I feel so humbled and blessed for the opportunity to judge."

"Being involved in the Martin Luther King, Jr. Essay Contest was an amazing and humbling experience," said Vicki Oatis, Director of Youth Services at the Norwalk Public Library. "Even at a young age, the kids show a great understanding of this quote by John Lewis: 'Do not get lost in a sea of despair. Be hopeful, be optimistic. Our struggle is not the struggle of a day, a week, a month, or a year, it is the struggle of a lifetime.' They bring their personal experiences of racial inequities, but also an optimistic hope for a better future. I learned a lot from reading these essays and I was honored to be involved in the contest."

The Norwalk Branch NAACP scholarship committee, with Rosa Murray as Chair, was instrumental in making sure each winner in all three categories received monetary prizes. First place winners received $100. Second place winners received $50. Third place winners received $25.

"It was our pleasure to support young people in this endeavor," said Brenda Penn Williams, Norwalk Branch NAACP President.

"I appreciate the efforts of teachers and principals to get students engaged under Dr. Estrella, Norwalk Public Schools Superintendent's leadership," said Harris. "As Lamond Daniels, City of Norwalk Community Services Chief says, 'These children are all of our children, and we have to take care of them together.'"

"Participating in the Martin Luther King, Jr. essay contest was such a pleasure," said Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff. "I thoroughly enjoyed reading and learning what is on the minds of our students. They wrote eloquently with passion and purpose. I want to thank everyone involved
locally and U.S. Senator Chris Murphy for leading this initiative."