Essays With Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. In Mind

The connection between education and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's legacy is made no more clear than through the essays written by students. A yearly language arts assignment asks students to think about the qualities that make up personal character in the context of Dr. King's legacy and the history of the Civil Rights Movement. The results become entries in the 6th Grade Hero Essay Contest.

Six winning essays will be read during an afternoon ceremony on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Day at .

The following students had their essays selected by a special committee at Summit High School:

Vincent Kinget (Hero: Renaat  Kinget,  Grandfather)

Liam Galligan (Hero: Peter Paul Galligan,  Great  Grandfather)

Jeremy Schultz (Hero: Max Schultz,  Grandfather)

Rachel Kantor (Hero: Irwin Kantor, Grandfather)

Joseph Shepard (Hero: Steve Shepard, Father)

Declan Alvidrez (Hero:  Michael Prout,  Uncle)

Essay winners also receive a certificate for good character from Shaping  Summit Together, which is given to them by the . 

"We are extremely grateful to the for  this curriculum connection to this  community-wide program," said Annette Dwyer, Board Chair of , who helps organize the city-wide program.

"These  collaborative elements and celebration of our community's strides in  its  diversity are among the distinctive qualities of what sets  our program apart from others in the  state," Dwyer said.

Winning essays will be read in conjunction with the Keeper of the Dream Awards from 1:00pm – 2:30pm during the Celebration of Community Service at St. John's Lutheran Church Sanctuary, 587 Springfield Ave.