FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
From the city of St. Petersburg

CONTACTS:
Wanda C. Mitchell, Recreation Leader, Enoch D. Davis Center, 893-7803,
or
Herbert Sanders, Essay Contest Chair/MLK Commemorative Committee, 893-7134

 

DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
ESSAY CONTEST ENTRIES DUE NOVEMBER 10

St. Petersburg, Fla. (October 23, 2007) - Area high school students are invited to participate in the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Essay Contest focusing on the theme, "It Started with a Dream ... Many Views, One Vision." Entries are due on November 10 for the contest sponsored by the Enoch D. Davis Center, in cooperation with the St. Petersburg Chapter of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Committee.

Essays should be delivered to the Davis Center, 1111 18th Ave. S. in St. Petersburg, by 9 p.m. on Saturday, November 10. Students submitting an essay must be currently enrolled in a public or private high school in Pinellas County.

All essays must meet the following criteria to be eligible for judging. The essay should be a minimum of 300 words and a maximum of 600 words and must be typewritten or neatly handwritten in blue or black ink. The name, address, home phone number, school, grade and age of student author must be submitted on a cover page, accompanying the essay. Do not place student's name on any other page. Relatives of judges, Davis Center staff, MLK committee members and sponsoring agencies are NOT eligible. Previous first place winners cannot enter in consecutive years.

Essays will be judged on a point system earned in three categories including content, originality and readability. Entrants with the six highest scores will be required to present their essay publicly at the January 10, 2008 Dr. Martin Luther King Essay Contest oratorical finals, where judging will be based oral presentation and stage presence. Saving bonds in the amounts of $400, $200, and $100 will be awarded for first, second and third place winners, respectively. Those in an honorable mention category will also be recognized.

"We invite schools, teachers and parents to encourage students to participate, as we consider this contest to be of great significance to the youth of our community," said Wanda Mitchell, recreation leader at the Davis Center. If you have questions, please feel free to contact Wanda Mitchell at 893-7803.

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No. 07-49

ISSUED BY THE CITY OF ST. PETERSBURG
Marketing Department
727-893-7465 / marketing@stpete.org