Sixteen students advance to semifinals of Gardere MLK Jr. Oratory competition

Sixteen students have advanced to the semifinal round of the 27^th annual Gardere Martin Luther King Jr. Oratory Competition.

The 16 placed first at their campus contests and will compete to determine the eight finalists starting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 4, at North Dallas High School.

Students at participating Dallas ISD schools wrote their own speeches based on this year’s theme, “What would Dr. King say to children of today’s world?” Their speeches are judged on their writing and delivery.

The semifinalists are (in no particular order)

• Joselyn Torres, Arcadia Park Elementary School
• Tynia Matts, John Neely Bryan Elementary School
• Priscilla Delgado, Frederick Douglass Elementary School
• Jakorian Jackson, Paul L. Dunbar Learning Center
• Jada Wilson, L.L. Hotchkiss Elementary School
• Jeremiah Wilson, T.L. Marsalis Elementary School
• Donovan Dominguez, Eladio Martinez Elementary School
• Layla Johnson, Ronald McNair Elementary School
• Jasira King, William B. Miller Elementary School
• Tory Robertson, Jr., Clara Oliver Elementary School
• Kaiya Hudson, Charles Rice Learning Center
• Kimberli Rouwtt, J.P. Starks Elementary School
• Ayleen Morales, Thomas Tolbert Elementary School
• Raeann Lowe, Urban Park Elementary School
• Alexandra Torres, Wilmer-Hutchins Elementary School
• Presley Rivers, Harry C. Withers Elementary School