Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Essay Contest Winners

NOTE: We honor the original work of our essay contest winners. Please do not plagiarize by using any of these essays and turning it in as your own work.  (All of the following are PDF files)

2012
Theme: Life’s most persistent and urgent question: ‘What are you doing for others?’
First prize winner: Julianna Lively
Second prize winner: Marissa Loya
Third prize winner: Maggie Bucher

2011
Theme: We Are The Ones We've Been Waiting For
First prize winner: Kayla Dawson
Second prize winner: Elly French
Third prize winner: Gabrielle Russell

2010
Theme: The Dream Marches On
First prize winner: Sofia Smith
Second prize winner: Noah Genatossio
Third prize winner: Michelle Thomas

2009
Theme: Breaking Barriers   
First prize winner: Jaida Raquel Morgan
Second prize winner: Katie Carroll
Third prize winner: Indigo Trigg-Hauger

2008
Theme: The Beloved Community
First prize winner: Carli Pogson
Second prize winner: Patricia Flores Perez
Third prize winner: Audre Bennett

2007
Theme: It Started With a Vision... Many Views, One Vision
First prize winner: Caroline Sargent
Second prize winner: Karen Hendrickson
Third prize winner: Olivia Pham

2005
Theme: United for the Common Good
First prize winner: Lena Cordoso
Second prize winner: Maya Riser-Kositsky
Third prize winner: Karly Birch

2004
Theme: The Struggle Continues
First prize winner: Brisa P. Halviatti
Second prize winner: Ryan Walsh
Third prize winner: Aaron Williams

2003
Theme: Uniting Generations and Cultures
First prize winner: Monica Thomas
Second prize winner: Cassie Lear
Third prize winner: Supriti Jaya Ghosh

2002
Theme: Stride Toward Freedom
First prize winner: Michelle Kim
Second prize winner: Lynn Pham
Second prize winner: Lauren Ressler

2001
Theme: Are You Reaching For The Mountaintop?
First prize winner: Megan Parker
First prize winner: Christopher F. Russell
Second prize winner: Tracy Ma
Second prize winner: Alice Hu

2000
Theme: Dr. King's Work: What My Generation Can Do To Complete It In The New Millennium
First prize winner: Kelsey Jacobs
Second prize winner: Jodi Mineham
Second prize winner: Shannon Mercado