Neveln Elementary School fourth-graders got the chance to learn about Martin Luther King Jr. and try to win a pizza party.

Students were able to participate in an essay contest sponsored by the Hormel African American Resource Group. The essays had students write why Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s actions are important to them.

“The kids were really excited about it,” Neveln teacher Shelly Weinmann said.

Three fourth-grade classes participated in the essay contest. Weinmann explained the classes were familiarized with what Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. did through books and classroom activities, and she said all the essays were done well. The contest was around Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

“I think that they learned a lot about diversity, they learned about fairness, they learned about segregation,” she said. “They learn that he was a hero, what he did.”

One of the more difficult things for the students to understand, according to their teacher, was despite all the good someone killed him.

“That was a big thing for the kids, that he’d done so much and someone killed him,” Weinmann said.

Members of HAARG read the essays and presented awards to the top five essays Wednesday, after talking about why Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s actions are important to them.

The first place winner was Miguel Rubio Alvarez, who received $50 and a framed certificate; the runners up were Alia Retterath, Dakota Retterath, Lukas Khang, and Alexis Ramirez, who all received $10 gift cards to Subway and certificates. The first place winner’s classroom also received a pizza party, and the Neveln received a $50 Staples gift card for school supplies.

“We’re very thankful … that they were kind enough to actually do a contest like this for the kids,” Weinmann said. “They’re really generous.”