Blen T., from Preston Hollow Elementary, is the winner of the 34th Annual MLK Jr. Oratory Competition. She is also the first from her campus to become a finalist.
Second place went to Cameron K., from Clara Oliver Elementary School, and Kennedy K. from Solar Preparatory School for Girls came in third place.
In total, eight students across Dallas ISD took the stage for the annual competition on Friday, Jan. 16, at the AT&T Performing Arts Center. All finalists received a laptop, a personalized plaque, a gift bag with goodies, and a monetary gift from the sponsor, Foley & Lardner LLP. This year, an anonymous donor doubled the prize money.
The theme this year was “As a student of Dr. King’s life, what message of hope do you think he would have for the world today?” Each student delivered a three-to-five-minute speech that incorporated the theme with lessons taught by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
For years, the MLK Oratory Competition has inspired elementary students in Dallas and other cities to celebrate MLK’s legacy. By partaking in this event, students improve their writing and public speaking skills and highlight their communities’ cultural diversity and talent.
