“Martin Luther King Jr. is a spokesperson about standing up for things that aren’t right.”
That’s what ninth grader Triston Rice said when asked about the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Triston is one of the 2019 Essay Contest winners.
To celebrate the winners, the YWCA of Wheeling held their annual MLK Breakfast at the Laughlin Chapel on Monday.
The breakfast honors the students’ achievements, but also remembers Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy of fairness, equality, and getting along.
This year, 20 students were essay and film contest winners.
11 of those students are from the Ohio Valley.
Officials said all 20 winners will present their essays in Charleston at the state capitol.
Here’s a full list of the 2019 Project on Racism winners:
1st – 4th Grade Essay Contest
- First Place: Connor Johnston, West Liberty Elementary School
- Second Place: Isabella Carlson, Bethlehem Elementary School
- Third Place: Vanessa Clemons, Ritchie Elementary School
5th – 8th Grade Essay Contest
- First Place: Joey Mogyoros, St. Francis Central Catholic School
- Second Place: Susan Tenney, John Adams Middle School
- Third Place: Nate Simon, Triadelphia Middle School
9th – 12th Grade Essay Contest
- First Place: Lacaya Cyrus, South Charleston High School
- Second Place: Triston Rice, George Washington High School
- Third Place: Erin Brogran, Wheeling Park High School
1st – 4th Grade 5 Minute Film Contest
- First Place: Skyler Hunter, West Liberty Elementary School
- Second Place: Julien Butler, West Liberty Elementary School
- Third Place: Logan Sonda, West Liberty Elementary School
5th – 8th Grade 5 Minute Film Contest
- First Place: Lauren Erwin, Triadelphia Middle School
- Second Place: Rylin Russell & Addy Bommer, Triadelphia Middle School
- Third Place: Abigia Smith, Natalie Daugherty & Addy Perks, Triadelphia Middle School
9th – 12th Grade 5 Minute Film Contest
- First Place: Mikey Kluska & Peyton Pack, Greenbrier East High School
- Second Place: Jacob Moles, Greenbrier East High School
- Third Place: Carly Crutchfield, Greenbrier East High School
Project on Racism Song Competition
- First Place: “Bystander”, Jovey McFarland, Beckley Stratton Middle School
- Second Place: “In the Eyes of a Bystander”, Victoria DeJarnette, Beckley Stratton Middle School
