Congratulations to the winners of Polk County’s 25th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Essay Challenge!
The contest is open each year to students in grades K-12. In addition to a cash prize, winning students read their essays during an awards ceremony dinner, which was held last Thursday at the Bartow Civic Center.
The Essay Challenge is held in partnership between PCPS and Polk’s Community Relations Advisory Council. This year’s theme was “Mission Possible: Standing Up for Freedom, Justice and Democracy — Peacefully and Powerfully.”
And the winners are ...
Elementary school, grades K-2
- First place: Eiden Lopez, Citrus Ridge: A Civics Academy
- Second place: Laya Kumar, Winston Academy of Engineering
- Third place: Riley Siedlecki, Citrus Ridge: A Civics Academy
Elementary school, grades 3-5
- First place: Mithun Krishnan, Lincoln Avenue Academy
- Second place: Gia Sanchez, Citrus Ridge: A Civics Academy
- Third place: Storm Bryant, Winston Academy of Engineering
Middle school
- First place: Adalynn Conrad, Davenport School of the Arts
- Second place: Catherine Leyte-Vidal, Davenport School of the Arts
- Third place: Hailey Goodwin, Jewett Middle Academy
High school
- First place: Aaliyah Martin, Harrison School for the Arts
- Second place: Zanterrian Love Jr., Bartow High
- Third place: Nadlie Ferdinand, Haines City High
