Eight Dallas ISD students advance in annual MLK Jr. Oratory Competition

Congratulations to Aiden B. from Thomas L. Marsalis Elementary STEAM Academy, for winning the 32nd annual MLK Jr. Oratory Competition!

Eight fourth- and fifth-grade students have advanced to the final round of Dallas ISD’s 32nd annual MLK Jr. Oratory Competition, co-sponsored by Foley amp; Lardner LLP. The competition takes place at 11 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 12, at McFarlin Auditorium at SMU – Southern Methodist University and will be streamed on the district’s website and on Facebook Live. 

In celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy, the oratory competition is designed to highlight the cultural diversity and talent of the Dallas community while recognizing and encouraging the writing and public speaking skills of elementary school students. Hosted by Foley, the competition invites local students to present original three-to-five-minute speeches addressing the topic, “How would Dr. King reflect on the 60 years since his ‘I Have A Dream’ speech?” Criteria for judging include delivery, stage presence and decorum, content interpretation and memorization. Finalists receive a monetary award, a participation plaque, and other gifts.

Students advancing to the final round are:

Created in Dallas in 1993, the event’s success led to the establishment of the Houston competition in 1997 and the Chicago competition in 2020. Past winners and participants have delivered their speeches to numerous local and national organizations, and have made MLK Day appearances at the House of Blues. They have also appeared on local and national television programs, including CBS’ “The Early Show,” Fox 26 News, “Oprah,” “Good Morning America,” “The Today Show,” and “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.”