YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – East High School students Bryant Smith and J’Kaylien Brown have been named winners in the Ohio Civil Rights Commission’s annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Art, Writing, and Multimedia Contest.
This statewide competition invites students to reflect on the legacy of King and the Civil Rights movement. Smith and Brown were recognized for their essays, which demonstrated an understanding of social justice, equality and the contemporary relevance of King’s vision of community and nonviolence.
“We are extremely proud of Bryant and J’Kaylien for their dedication and the impactful voices they brought to honoring Dr. King’s legacy,” said Debra Campbell, East High School principal. “Their representation of East High at the state level highlights the remarkable talent and unwavering commitment to excellence our scholars demonstrate.”
The contest is sponsored by the Ohio Civil Rights Commission, in collaboration with various commissioners and state partners. The contest is intended to encourage students to reflect on King’s life, philosophy and impact on the Civil Rights movement and on present-day America and to present their reflections in a written essay. It is meant to challenge students to think about how civil rights and diversity affect their lives and how they can continue King’s work in their own way.
State officials recently recognized winning students at an awards ceremony.
Pictured at top: East High School students Bryant Smith and J’Kaylien Brown.