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SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah State Office of Education announced Monday the winners of its 31st annual Martin Luther King, Jr. essay and video contest.
Students in seventh through 12th grade submit entries that address a quote or theme on civil rights, applying it to their own lives. They are graded by a team of judges comprised of state and district officials, as well as retired educators.
Last fall, students submitted 475 essays and 15 video entries reflecting on a quote by King: "Everyone has the power for greatness, not for fame, but greatness, because greatness is determined by service."
Amanda Charlesworth, program specialist for Educational Equity at the state office, said that although there were fewer video entries than last year, judges were pleased with what was submitted.
It really is a recognition of the English teachers who work with their students. It's not just random juveniles who are thinking out loud. They are thinking with a lot of structure.
–Richard Gomez, Educational Equity program coordinator
"Very strong competition," Charlesworth said. "They had some really good choices this year."
Richard Gomez, Educational Equity program coordinator, said the awards are a tribute to not only students, but also their teachers.
"It really is a recognition of the English teachers who work with their students," Gomez said. "It's not just random juveniles who are thinking out loud. They are thinking with a lot of structure."
The 2014 essay grand prize winners are:
• Bennett Kieffer, a senior at Wasatch High School in Heber City.
• Rebecca Doud, a ninth-grader at North Layton Junior High in Layton.
The essay individual grade winners are:
• Bethany Allred, a seventh-grader at North Davis Preparatory Academy in Layton.
• Haylee Tuttle, an eighth-grader at Vista Heights Middle School in Saratoga Springs.
• Joey Mancini, a sophomore at Judge Memorial Catholic High School in Salt Lake City.
• Deanna Nguyen, a junior at Corner Canyon High School in Draper.
The 2014 video grand prize winners are:
• Davis Johnson, Connor Kleinman and Alex Sutherland, seniors at Woods Cross High School in Woods Cross.
• Sara Ortiz, a ninth-grader at Logan High School in Logan.
The video individual grade winners are:
• Sadie Stone, Derek Fratto and Renae Bolander, seventh-graders at American Leadership Academy in Spanish Fork.
• Kaden Murri, an eighth-grader at Syracuse Arts Academy in Syracuse.
• Madeline Cornell, a sophomore at Woods Cross High School.
• Jared Sagae, a junior at Corner Canyon High School.
Contest winners will be honored with a luncheon at 12 p.m. Jan. 14 at the Davis School District Office in Farmington.
