The winner of this year’s 26th annual MLK Jr. Youth Oratorical Contest is Stonewall Jackson High School senior Norman Jones III.
According to a release, this is the third year in a row that Jones has won the award.
“Jones a passionate and posed speaker has also spoken before the Department of Justice and the Prince William County School Board,” stated a release.
For the middle school level of the competition, Ronald Reagan Middle School seventh grader Abdullah Usufzai took first place.
The theme for this year’s competition was “What the World Needs Now” and more than 2,000 people came out to see the contestants speak.
“Speakers were judged on content and originality; delivery and body actions; and language, voice and diction. The judges however, had difficult decisions to make because the speakers encouraged compassion, courage, confidence, love and understanding,” stated a release.
More on the results of the competition, from a release:
Best Before the Audience (MLK Program, Monday, January 16)
High School – Norman Jones III, Stonewall Jackson High School
Middle School – Abdullah Usufzai, Ronald Reagan Middle School
Best Before the Judges (based on their performance at the regional judging on January 9)
High School – Norman Jones III, Stonewall Jackson HS
Middle School – Jennine Faruque, Stonewall Middle School
Judges’ Choice/Honorable Mention (select at regional judging and announced at MLK Program)
High School – Beverly Sackey, Brentsville High School
Middle School – Claire Lord, Marstellar Middle School
Additionally, the Prince William Deltas conducted an elementary school writing contest based on the same “What the World Needs Now” theme.
Elementary School Writing Contest Winners:
4th Grade
1st Place- Sophia Ibanez -Jennie Dean Elementary
2nd Place- Adalyn Wood – Victory Elementary
5th Grade
1st Place- Makenna Howell – Porter Traditional School
2nd Place-Sahiti Shadtri – Mountain View Elementary
