Forty Charlotte-area students recently took home honors in the annual CMS Martin Luther King Jr. art and writing contest, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools announced today.
More than 100 students submitted artwork or an essay on the theme “Celebrating Diversity, Diplomacy and the Dream.” Judges selected winners in four age groups. All participants received certificates; winners received ribbons.
CMS has held the contest for more than 10 years. Open to students in grades K-12, the competition is intended to encourage students to think artistically and critically about Dr. King’s life and legacy.
Entries were judged on adherence to theme, creativity, use of language, spelling and grammar.
Winner’s will participate in several community events leading up to the King holiday, including a parade on Saturday, Jan. 17, in uptown Charlotte at 11 a.m. Winners and their schools also will be honored during the MLK National Holiday Celebration at Spirit Square on Monday, Jan. 19, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. First-place winners will be recognized and awarded scholarships for their writing and artistic abilities.
The winners were:
Art Contest Winners
Elementary School (K-2)
1st Place: Jada Jones, Dilworth Elementary
2nd Place: Kennedy Earle, Bain Elementary
3rd Place: Anastasia Moussouris, Oakhurst Academy
Honorable Mention: Saadiq Horton, Dilworth Elementary
Honorable Mention: Fred Denny, Landsdowne Elementary
Elementary School Level (3-5)
1st Place: Hannah Gregory, Idlewild Elementary
2nd Place: Mallory Quintero, Crown Point Elementary
3rd Place: Austin Fitzgerald, Villa Heights Elementary
Honorable Mention: Lauryn Moore, Mallard Creek Elementary
Honorable Mention: Jessica Trapp, Sedgefield Elementary
Middle School Level (6-8)
1st Place: Taylor Gregory, Crestdale Middle
2nd Place: Takeria Barrier, Cochrane Middle
3rd Place: Darby Long, Crestdale Middle
Honorable Mention: Dominique Martin, Piedmont Middle
Honorable Mention: Adrian Worth, J.M. Alexander Middle
High School Level (9-12)
1st Place: Andrea Dell Rio, South Mecklenburg High
2nd Place: Miranda Melton, Harding University High
3rd Place: Johnny Nguyen, South Mecklenburg High
Honorable Mention: Catherine Sharp, Providence High
Honorable Mention: Catherine Rainey, South Mecklenburg High
Writing Contest Winners
Elementary School Level (K-2)
1st Place: Honor Swinton, First Ward Elementary
2nd Place: Jessica Gbossou, University Meadows Elementary
3rd Place: Tera Daravong, Whitewater Academy
Honorable Mention: Harmoney Taylor, Sedgefield Elementary
Honorable Mention: Jaleb Grant, Hickory Grove Elementary
Elementary School Level (3-5)
1st Place: Samantha Claypool, Elizabeth Elementary
2nd Place: Ollivia Vaden, Idlewild Elementary
3rd Place: Jake Cheek, Enhaven Elementary
Honorable Mention: Yasmine Nelson, Joseph W. Grier Academy
Honorable Mention: Sharriff Oliphant, Nathaniel Alexander Elementary
Middle School Level (6-8)
1st Place: Ashton Carrick, South Charlotte Middle
2nd Place: Bianca Budhai, Piedmont Middle
3rd Place: Ikra Javed, Randolph Middle
Honorable Mention: Alyssa Chapin, Randolph Middle
Honorable Mention: Stephanie Smith, Bailey Middle
High School Level (9-12)
1st Place: Jordyn Bush, Providence High
2nd Place: Teyonia Philpot, New Technology @ Garinger High
3rd Place: Ebony Shamberger, West Mecklenburg High
Honorable Mention: Shalisha Lewis, Leadership and Public Service @ Garinger High
Honorable Mention: Cornelia Allen, Garinger High
