MLK Observance Day Celebration
P.O. Box 222 * Guyton, GA 31312
Telephone: (912) 772-3505 or (912) 772-3061
Pastor Lon Harden – President * Rosetta Gordon, Secretary
November 3, 2014
TO:
Effingham County Schools and Community Organizations
FROM:
Rev. Lon Harden, President of the MLK Jr. Observance Day Committee LH
RE:
Announcement of Poster/Essay Contests and Theme Winners
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Observance Day Committee invites all youth in grades 1 - 5 to participate in
our annual poster contest and grades 6 – 12 to participate in our essay contest. This year’s chosen theme
is "Confronting the Past, Building and Sustaining the Future as One Nation" submitted by
Alexander Williams, an 11th grade ECHS student. The guidelines for both contests are attached. Note:
Students must respond to the following contest prompt in developing their essays:
Prompt:
Writing Situation
During his lifetime, Martin Luther King, Jr. became an influential civil rights leader, working with all
ethnicities to identify discrimination, eliminate segregation, and promote equality. As a result, Dr. King
helped to overturn America's racist laws in the 1950's and 1960's through his nonviolent approach and
motivational speeches.
Directions for Writing
Write a persuasive essay convincing the reader of why you feel Dr. King was one of the most influential
leaders who encouraged building and sustaining equal rights for all. Include three specific reasons and
make sure you offer supporting details, evidence, facts, anecdotes (brief stories), etc. for your reasons
and relate your reasons to the ideals and philosophies of Dr. King.
The deadline for the poster and essay contests is Tuesday, November 25, 2014. Please encourage your
students to participate.
All entries may be submitted to your school’s Instructional Supervisor, inter-office to Dr. Sandra
Nethels, or mailed to the address above. Winners will be announced on Wednesday, December 17,
2014. If additional information is needed, please call me at (912) 772–3505 or Rosetta Gordon at (912)
772-3061. Information may also be found on the Parent University website at
www.parentuniversityeffingham.org
Awards will be presented to all contest winners during the noon-day (12:00) youth program at the
Effingham County Gymnasium on Highway 119 on Monday, January 19, 2015. Winners are
encouraged to attend this service and participate in other activities of the day. Again, please make
all students aware of this opportunity and encourage them to participate.
Observance Day Committee announces the chosen theme and extends congratulations to
the following theme winners:
1st Place - "Confronting the Past, Building and Sustaining the Future as One Nation"
Submitted by: Alexander Williams – 11th Grade - Effingham County High School
2nd Place - “Equality: His Dream Marches on Through Principles with Purpose” – Samantha Mattox 8th – SEMS
3rd Place – “Passionate in His Beliefs – Persistent in His Actions” - Katie Harley – 9th – ECHS
Honorable Mention – “Passionate for Equal Rights - Equality for All” – Zackary Bentley – 9th - ECHS
Thank you for your support.
2015 ANNUAL CELEBRATION OF
DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.
THEME/POSTER/ESSAY CONTEST ENTRY FORM
All entries must be received on or before November 25, 2014.
THEME: ___________________________________________
Name:
____________________________________________
Age:
____________________________________________
School:
____________________________________________
Teacher: ____________________________________________
Grade:
____________________________________________
Name of Parents:
___________________________________
Mailing Address:
___________________________________
___________________________________
Email Address:
___________________________________
Telephone:
___________________________________
2015 POSTER/ESSAY CONTEST GUIDELINES
Poster Contest Rules:
1. You must be 6 - 11 years of age or in 1st through 5th grades.
2. Poster must reflect contest theme:
"Confronting the Past, Building and Sustaining the Future as One Nation"
3. Poster must be child’s work.
4. Any medium may be used (crayons, markers, pen and ink, paints, watercolors, pencils etc.).
5. The poster should be created on a poster board.
6. Your name MUST be written on the back of the poster with entry form attached to it otherwise your poster will be disqualified.
7. Poster will be judged on:
 Creativity (originality – Child’s work)
40 points
 How well it illustrates the prompt
30 points
 Proper grammar and usage
20 points
 Neatness
10 points
8. Winners will be selected from two categories (ages 6 & 7 and ages 8 – 10).
Essay Contest Rules:
1. You must be 11 - 18 years of age or in 6th through 12th grades to submit an essay.
2. Essay must be an original response to the contest prompt:
Write a persuasive essay convincing the reader of why you feel Dr. King was one of the most
influential leaders who encouraged building and sustaining equal rights for all. Include three
specific reasons and make sure you offer supporting details, evidence, facts, anecdotes (brief
stories), etc. for your reasons and relate your reasons to the ideals and philosophies of Dr. King.
“See Writing Situation.”
3. Essay should consist of at least 1 page – double-space (approximately 250 words).
4. Essay must be typed.
5. Essay should be submitted on 8 1/2 x 11 sheets of paper.
6. The cover sheet must contain student’s name, school, home phone number, parents or
guardian’s name or guardians’ names, and address. No other information should be included in the
body of the essay.
Do NOT put your name on your essay.
7. Essay will be judged on:
 Content (Includes originality and Creativity)
20 points (Ideas)
 How well it response to the prompt
30 points (Organization)
 Proper grammar and usage
20 points (Conventions)
 Effective Expression
20 points (Style/Voice)
8. Winners will be selected from two categories (ages 11– 13 and ages 14 – 18).