MLK Commission, HHOMA to honor student winners of Project on Racism Contest and 40th Annual Poster Competition on Jan. 13

CHARLESTON, WV — The Herbert Henderson Office of Minority Affairs (HHOMA) will host an award ceremony to celebrate the student winners of the Project on Racism Contest and 40th Annual Poster Competition. The ceremony can be viewed Saturday, Jan. 13, at 12 p.m. on HHOMA’s Facebook page or on Friday, Jan. 19, at 8:30 p.m., on WV Public Broadcasting, the West Virginia Channel.

“The MLK Commission works all year long to make sure that West Virginia students are given the opportunity to showcase their gifts in the arts,” HHOMA Executive Director and Martin Luther King, Jr. State Holiday Commission Chair Jill Upson said. “We could not be more excited to recognize their work at this year’s Celebration of Diversity Awards ceremony.”

The Project on Racism Contest was presented by the Martin Luther King, Jr. State Holiday Commission and the YWCA Wheeling. Entries were accepted for essays, music, and five-minute films and was open to any student from grades 1-12 attending public, private, parochial or home school in West Virginia.

All entries must have focused on the following quote from Martin Luther King, Jr.: “Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.” 

Students had to submit their work under one of the following categories: Essays, Music, or Film.

Award recipients for each category are listed below.

Essay Award Recipients: 
Grade K-5
1st Place 
Brantley Myers, Bethlehem Elementary School, 5th Grade

2nd Place
Baleigh Anderson, Bethlehem Elementary School, 4th Grade

3rd Place 
Spencer Benedict, Bethlehem Elementary School, 5th Grade

Grade 6-8
1st Place 
Leah Lief, Triadelphia Middle School, 7th Grade

2nd Place 
Miles Rockey, Triadelphia Middle School, 7th Grade

3rd Place
Jaxson Updegraff, Bridge Street Middle School, 8th Grade

Grade 9-12
1st Place 
Bryliegh Asbury, Independence High School, 11th Grade

2nd Place
Tanner Adkins, Westside High School, 11th Grade

3rd Place 
Tristan Hornbuckle, Huntington High School, 11th Grade

Film Award Recipients: 
Grade K-5 - Solo Division
1st Place
Reece Adams, Pineville Elementary School, 3rd Grade

Grade K-5 - Group Division
1st Place
Sailor Hall, Pineville Elementary School, 3rd Grade
Monrae Zebo, Pineville Elementary School, 3rd Grade
Rian Osborne, Pineville Elementary School, 3rd Grade
Shelbea Bailey, Pineville Elementary School, 3rd Grade

Grade 9-12
1st Place
Entire Class of Wheeling Central Catholic High School:
Braxton Billick, 11th Grade
Wyatt Brady, 10th Grade
Kaitlin Brodegard, 10th Grade
Jake Brown, 9th Grade
Aaron Chapman, 12th Grade
Thomas Cottrill, 12th Grade
Lucca Ferrera, 12th Grade 
Caleb Golden, 10th Grade 
Tylique Marshall, 10th Grade 
Isaac Martin, 10th Grade 
Keyuri Morgan, 10th Grade 
Michael Steiniger, 10th Grade 
Luke Tiu, 11th Grade 
Lilly Whitelatch, 9th Grade 
Miss Carpino, Faculty 
Allen Chip Jones, Faculty 
Mrs. Michelle Thorngate, Teacher 

Song Award Recipient: 
1st Place 
Gracie Bower, Wyoming East High School, 11th Grade 

Poster Artwork
The Martin Luther King, Jr. State Holiday Commission and the Beta Beta Omega Chapter, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, presented the 40th annual Poster Competition.

West Virginia students from grades K-12 could enter the poster competition. The art must have focused on the following quote from Martin Luther King, Jr.: “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”

Poster Award Recipients:
Grade K-2
1st Place
Mia K. Bailey, Mullens Elementary School, Kindergarten

2nd Place 
Eliza K. Crutchfield, Berlin McKinney Elementary, 2nd Grade 

3rd Place 
Addison L. Blankenship, Pineville Elementary, 2nd Grade

Grade 3-5
1st Place
Brinley King, Belmont Elementary School, 3rd Grade 

2nd Place
Christina N. Mclaughlin. Belmont Elementary School, 3rd Grade

Grade 6-8
1st Place
Kamryn E. Perry, Martinsburg South Middle School, 7th Grade
Jada L. Terry, Dunbar Middle School, 6th Grade

2nd Place 
Mikayla S. Rizzo, Dunbar Middle School, 8th Grade 

3rd Place 
Easton Griffith, Herndon Consolidated Elementary and Middle School, 6th Grade 

Grade 9-12
1st Place
Chloe M. Smalley, Huntington High School, 11th Grade

2nd Place
Darci C. McNeal, Point Pleasant Junior Senior High School, 10th Grade

3rd Place 
Alexie RF Miller, Point Pleasant Junior Senior High School, 9th Grade