By Marla Hurston Fuller & Joe Wessel, Cincinnati Public Schools
The Office of Human Relations (OHR) and Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS) together hosted students in grades kindergarten through 12 for the Ohio Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Statewide Oratorical Contest. The citywide contest was held February 27 at the Mary A. Ronan Education Center (2651 Burnet Avenue) for students who recited their memorized essay in front of a panel of judges.
This year’s contest, “Honoring the Legacy, Uniting for the Future,” asks contestants to reflect on where society would be without Dr. King, and to provide solutions for moving forward. The contest was held in four divisions: Primary (grades K-2), Intermediate (grades 3-5), Junior (Grades 6-8) and Senior (grades 9-12). Thirty-four students from nine different CPS schools participated in this year’s contest.
This year’s winners include:
Primary Division
- 1st Place: Zaniyah Browning, Taft Elementary – Grade 2
- 2nd Place: Austin Cox, North Elementary – Grade 2
- 3rd Place: Liam Bauer, Taft Elementary – Grade 2
Intermediate Division
- 1st Place: Lauren Brown, Taft Elementary – Grade 5
- 2nd Place: London Brwon, Taft Elementary – Grade 4
- 3rd Place: Daman Houston, Taft Elementary – Grade 4
Junior Division
- 1st Place: A’June’t Carson, Walnut Hills High School: Grade 7
- 2nd Place: Zyon Bolden, Chase Elementary: Grade 6
- 3rd Place: Serayah Yisreal: Taft Elementary: Grade 6
Senior Division
- 1st Place: Gavin Foster, Shroder High School: Grade 12
- 2nd Place: Elena Kochanowski, Shroder High School: Grade 9
“The Oratorical Contest exists to develop deeper knowledge and appreciation for Dr. King among students. Since its inception, the program has presented participants with an academic speaking challenge that teaches important leadership qualities, the history of our nation’s plight for civil rights, the ability to think and speak clearly, and an understanding of the duties, responsibilities, rights and privileges of American citizenship,” stated Paul M. Booth, Division Manager, OHR.
The contest provides students an opportunity to gain confidence in their speaking and presentation skills, while enhancing skills in language arts. Participants were judged on delivery (poise, self-confidence and audience appeal), vocal delivery (audibility, articulation, inflection of voice), creativity, physical (gestures and engagement) and presentation style. Students met State Common Core requirements in Language Arts as they prepared for the contest. Students in grades 4-5 learned how to summarize information, students in grades 6-10 learned how to give an objective summary and students in grades 11-12 learned how to provide an abbreviated version of the most significant points of a text.
“The Oratorical Contest offers students a meaningful way to honor Dr. King’s legacy by expressing his ideals through their own words and actions. This competition encourages them to think deeply and creatively as they develop and present their speeches. Our goal is for students to feel empowered by their voices, grow in confidence and become advocates for positive change in their communities, following Dr. King’s principles of nonviolent social justice. Supporting them in this journey is both an honor and a privilege,” said Pam Cocklin, Cincinnati Public Schools interim English Language Arts Curriculum Manager.
The top three winners in each division will go on to compete in the State Oratorical Contest in Columbus this spring. Selected Statewide winners will be invited to participate in the annual Ohio Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Celebration in January 2024.