The 2010 Lionel Washington Johnson Youth Awards Winners

• In its efforts to educate youth about the life, work, & principles of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, the Martin Luther King Coalition offers an opportunity to students in Grades 6, 7, & 8 (including those home-schooled) throughout the state, to demonstrate an understanding of Dr. King's principles regarding a particular theme based on The Words of Martin Luther King chosen from one of his many moving speeches.
• The theme of this year's Arts & Writing Contest: The Starless Midnight of Racism & War vs. The  Bright Daybreak of Peace  &  Brotherhood, is from these  words of the Reverend  Dr.  Martin Luther King: “I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality.

The following students were presented the Lionel Washington Johnson Youth Awards  at the 28th Annual Martin Luther King Day Community Celebration on Monday, January 18, 2010...

 

• Oyster River Middle School students in Durham once again swept the top prizes, however, a lone student from Barrington Middle School, working entirely on his own, captured an Honorable Mention for his entry in the Writing category.

 

Arts

 1^st - Danielle Lelio, Oyster River Middle School, Durham

2^{nd -} Mercedes Murphy, Oyster River Middle School, Durham

Honorable Mention - Isabelle Beagen, Oyster River Middle School, Durham

 

Writing

(writing Contest entries have been reproduced in your Souvenir Program Book)

1^st - Matt Segil, Oyster River Middle School, Durham

2^nd - Amanda Martin, Oyster River Middle School, Durham

Honorable Mention - Jake Scarponi, Barrington Middle School, Barrington

 

• First Place winners will each receive Lionel Washington Johnson Youth Award 1st Place plaques as well as $100 prizes.

 

• Second Place winners will each receive Lionel Washington Johnson Youth Award 2nd  Place plaques as well as $50 prizes.

 

• Honorable Mention certificates will be presented to Isabelle Beagen & Jake Scarponi.

   

• A panel consisting of volunteers from the Martin Luther King Coalition  Member Organizations’ Representatives had  the heart-warming experience of reading or examining each student's entry, then the difficult task of choosing which  best demonstrated the above-mentioned understanding in their interpretation of the theme.  This year's judges were Arts & Writing Co-Coordinator, Eva Castillo of the NH Alliance of Immigrants & Refugees, Ellen Belanger of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Manchester, Traci Belanger of the Cultural Diversity Task Force of Greater Manchester, Linda Rockenmacher of Temple Adath Yeshurun,  & Program Director, Vanessa L. Washington-Johnson.

 

Roster of Previous Youth Award Recipients

 Lionel Washington Johnson Youth Awards

 ~ 2009 ~

Oyster River Middle School, Durham 8th Grade Students:

Arts

1st place - Pranav Nanda

2nd place - Jialin Shi

Writing

1st place - Connor Grove

2nd place - Lydia Watt

 

~ 2008 ~

Omer Elrayah, Southside Middle School, Manchester

 

~ 2007 ~

Arts

 1^st - Victoria Harmon, Hollis-Brookline Middle School,  Hollis

2^{nd -} Kestrel Arthur Cole-McCrea, home-schooled, Milton

 Writing

1^st - Elizabeth Merrill, Kearsarge Regional Middle School, New London

2^nd - Alexa Foss, Kearsarge Regional Middle School, New London

Honorable Mention - Caiti Deane, Pittsfield Elementary School, Pittsfield

 

~ 2006 ~

Central High School Chapter of Amnesty International &

Central High School Diversity Club, Manchester

 

2005 ~ Pine Tree Elementary School, Conway

  

Martin Luther King Youth Challenge Awards

 ~ 2004 ~

  Parkside Middle School, Manchester

 

~ 2003 ~

Central High School Chapter of Amnesty International &

Central High School Diversity Club, Manchester

 

~ 2002 ~

Danville Elementary School, Danville