Aberdeen Student Wins Martin Luther King Jr. Essay Contest

To honor the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., community leaders came together at Bulle Rock Wednesday for the annual Harford County Humanitarian Awards luncheon.

Winners of the county’s Martin Luther King Jr. essay contest were announced at the event: Nia Hammett of Edgewood High School, Shadiamond Kell of Aberdeen Middle School and Jake Medvetz of Youth’s Benefit Elementary School.

The theme for this year’s contest was voting rights, and each winner received a tablet and honorary proclamation from the county executive, according to The Aegis.

The keynote speaker at the luncheon was Professor Larry Gibson, a leader in the civil rights movement in Baltimore who went on to teach law at the University of Virginia and University of Maryland, where he is currently on the faculty.

In 2012 Gibson released a book about the life of Thurgood Marshall, the first African-American justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, and is credited with pushing for legislation resulting in the BWI Airport‘s renaming in 2005 to include reference to Marshall.

During his talk on Jan. 14 in Havre de Grace, Gibson covered “milestones in the civil rights movement, Dr. King’s critical role, and the involvement of citizens from Maryland and from Harford County,” according to Cindy Mumby, spokeswoman for Harford County government.

Martin Luther King Day is Monday, Jan. 19,

See Also:

• What’s Open, Closed for Martin Luther King Day 2015 in Havre de Grace
• Chick-fil-A Exec to Keynote MLK Celebration at Aberdeen Proving Ground

Pictured, Harford County Councilman Curtis Beulah; Council President Richard Slutzky; Professor Larry Gibson; Councilman Chad Shrodes; Councilman Mike Perrone; Councilman Mike Perrone; Director of Community Services Amber Shrodes; Nia Hammett; Shadiamond Kell; and Jake Medvetz. Photo Credit: Sherrie Johnson.