Learning about King: Elementary students take part in annual essay contest
Published 7:50 am Wednesday, February 5, 2020
The winners of the “What Dr. Martin Luther King Mean to Me” essay contest at Sumner Elementary are photographed with Sumner faculty and members of the Hormel Africian American Group Tuesday morning. Front row, from left: Destinee Infante, Zachary Heine, Jenny San (grand prize winner), Delma Raymundo and Livianna Culbert. Back row: Third-grade teacher Amanda Lee, Daniel Olajonlu, Herve Kinhaun, Raymond Jackson and Principal Sheila Berger. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Daniel Olajonlu, from left, Raymond Jackson and Herve Kinhaun quized students Tuesday on the life of Dr. Martin Luther King. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Sumner Elementary third-grader Zachary Heine reads his essay from the “What Dr. Martin Luther King Means to Me” essay contest. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Third grade students raise their hands to answer a question on Dr. Martin Luther King Tuesday morning at Sumner Elementary. Photos by Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Tuesday morning, third-graders from Sumner Elementary took part in a very important quiz and, aside from a few miscues, they were passing with flying colors.
Daniel Olajonlu, Raymond Jackson and Herve Kinhoun, members of Hormel African American Resource Group at Hormel Foods Corporation posed questions on the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. a lead up to the announcement of winners in HAAG’s ninth annual essay contest, “What Dr. Martin Luther King Means to Me.”
Each year HAAG sponsors the contest nationwide, asking elementary students from second through fifth-grade to write an essay on King. This year’s Sumner winner was the third-grade class, but Sumner was just one of three schools to take part in the contest.
At Banfield and Southgate Elementary schools, a fourth-grade class was picked, and at each of the three schools, those classes will receive pizza parties.
But more than that, these students are taking place in the continuing legacy that is Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
“We want to talk to kids about what Dr. King means to us and what Dr. King means to them,” said Harold Burden, who works at Hormel Corporate and is also a member of HAAG. “It’s amazing that children today can comprehend and articulate (Dr. King’s) vision. It inspires us. They do a really great job personalizing Dr. King.”
At Sumner, four students were chosen as individual winners in the competition. Among those, Jenny San was picked overall winner of Sumner.
Her essay, like so many others, spoke to the hopes of King and his desire to reach equality.
“To change the law to make it right,” her essay read.
Daniel Olajonlu helps Sumner Elementary third-grader Jenny San read her essay Tuesday morning at the school. San won the “What Dr. Martin Luther King Means to Me” essay contest.
Burden said that not only is this contest meant to open up the world of King to students, but to show them how we are more alike than different.
“Diversity is more than color,” he said. “We’re all brothers and sisters.”
As the event was wrapping up, Olajonlu praised all the students for their work.
“We’re happy to know of his contribution to us and to you individually,” Olajonlu told the assembled students, adding later. “Thank you very much for the essays. We had great time reading your essays.”
Last year, the contest included 29 schools from around the nation and Burden said he’s looking forward to next year.
“This year is our ninth and next year is the big 10. We’ll have to do something special,” he said.
