Salem Students Honored In Annual SSU MLK Jr. Essay Contest

SALEM, MA — Two Salem Public Schools students were honored as the winners of the annual Salem State University Center for Justice and Liberation Martin Luther King Jr. Essay Contest.

Vincent Zheng, a seventh-grade student at the Collins Middle School, and Emily Anne Impeartrice, a fifth-grade student at the Horace Mann Laboratory School, each received $100 and a copy of the book "March," by the late U.S. Congressman John Lewis.

Zheng's essay was named the winner of the middle school division, while Impeartrice was named the elementary school winner. Mychaelah Brooks, also a fifth-grade student at Horace Mann, was the elementary school runner-up.

Teairra Riley and Lux Scully, both fifth-grade students at HMLS, received honorable mention honors.

All five students will be honored at the SSU Center for Justice and Liberation 36th Annual MLK Luncheon at Veterans Memorial Hall on Monday at 12:30 p.m.

Brooks received $50 as well as a copy of "March."

Impeartrice is the third HMLS student in as many years to win the Elementary School division. Last year, then-fifth grade students Enmanuel de la Cruz Ureña, Erin Tafua and Johnny San shared the elementary school division distinction. Amaya Hicks, then a fifth-grade student, was named a co-winner in 2024.

The theme for the 2026 essay was "Mission Possible II: Building Community, Uniting a Nation in a Nonviolent Way."

Zheng's essay, titled "Uniting Races," detailed how race and multiculturalism are "a crucial part of building a community, sustaining peace and creating equity." He also wrote about the importance of
standing firm in situations of race and inequity and offered subtle but effective suggestions to combat them.

Impeartrice's essay praised Dr. King for his resilience in his fight for equality, and how it inspires and impacts her today.

"MLK Jr. was a wonderful (man) who helped many people," she wrote. "If it wasn't for him, then some of my classmates wouldn't be in my school with me."

Brooks wrote about the importance of Dr. King's legacy and how it impacts her: "I want to live by Martin Luther King’s teaching and I know it can take me far in life. I would like to live a nonviolent and peaceful life forever."

Riley emphasized how Dr. King's message must carry on to future generations: "MLK was and still is a very important person in this world and I hope no one ever forgets that."

Scully referenced a world without Dr. King's influence: "He was the man who changed the world, and if he didn't speak up, the world wouldn’t be the same."