A part of the annual Athens-Limestone Martin Luther King Day celebration is a competition for local students. Each year, contest organizers publish prompts for students based on category and age. Students can create art or write an essay that addresses the prompt honoring the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.

The 2024 prompts for the 19th annual competition were as follows:

Essay

Grades 2-3, 4-5

• “My Thank You Letter to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.”
• “How are you being a drum major for justice, peace and righteousness in your Community?”

Grades 6-8, 9-12

• “How would you use your influence to stop injustice in your community?”
• “What message would you send to your generation about how to keep Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Dream Alive?”

Art

Grades 2-5, 6-12

• Reflections: “A Community where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Dream is Alive.”

On Jan. 21, the winners of these competitions had their work displayed at the Athens-Limestone MLK Day program. Art winners had their pieces physically displayed for attendees to view, and essay winners read their pieces aloud for the audience.

Essay winners

Grades 2-3

1st: Breleigh Anderson- Athens Elementary School

2nd: Darbey Gough — Sugar Creek Elementary

Grades 4-5

1st: Elinor Bingham — Athens Renaissance School

2nd: Larry Saulsberry III — Athens Intermediate School

3rd: Baani Makhija — Athens Intermediate School

Grades 6-8

1st: Easton Gough — West Limestone High School

2nd: Jackson Davis — Athens Middle School

3rd: Cullen Velotta — Athens Middle School

Grades 9-12

1st: Torriente White II — Athens High School

2nd: Bailee Velotta — Athens High School

3rd: Katrina Wiggins — Athens High School

Art winners

Grades 2-6

1st: Baani Makhija, Fifth Grade — Athens Intermediate

2nd: Mia Randolph, Sixth Grade — Athens Middle

3rd: Kalpa Panda, Third Grade — Athens Renaissance

Grades 7-12

1st: Isabella Adams, 11th Grade — Elkmont

2nd: Autumn Alexander, 11th Grade — Athens Renaissance

3rd: Kailee Cooley, Seventh Grade — Elkmont