Nineteen young people, five individuals and three service organizations were honored Saturday, Jan. 14, with awards from the Martin Luther King, Jr., West Virginia Holiday Commission as part of the state’s observance of the Martin Luther King holiday weekend. The awards ceremony was held during a private luncheon at the Cultural Center, State Capitol Complex in Charleston.
Sponsored by the Commission and the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History, awards were given for the Project on Racism Essay Contest, a poster contest, the Service Organization Honor Roll and the “Living the Dream” Awards.
YWCA 13th Annual Project on Racism Essay Contest Winners
Grades 1-2
First Place - Jacob Craver, Age 8, Homeschooled, Harpers Ferry
Second Place - Hanna Byrd, Age 7, Lakeside Elementary, Hurricane
Third Place - Max Zavatsky, Age 6, Mt. de Chantal Academy, Wheeling
Grades 3-5
First Place - Brock Earley, Age 11, Linsly School, Wheeling
Second Place - Rachel Dennison, Age 10, Short Line School, Reader
Third Place - Caroline Nanners, Age 11, Buckhannon Intermediate School, Buckhannon
Grades 6-8
First Place - Mashayla Holmes, Age 13, The Academy, Huntington
Second Place - Grant Chapman, Age 13, Fairmont Catholic School, Fairmont
Third Place - Johnna Leary, Age 13, Wellsburg Middle School, Wellsburg
Grades 9-12
First Place - William Foreman, Age 17, Linsly School, Wheeling
Second Place - Ashleigh Barber, Age 14, Woodrow Wilson High School, Beckley
Third Place - Mallonee Meritt, Age 15, Woodrow Wilson High School, Beckley
POSTER CONTEST WINNERS
Grades 6-8
First Place - Samantha Mayes, Grade 7, Hannon High School, Ashton
Second Place - Jasmine Campbell, Grade 7, Hannan High School, Ashton
Third Place - Casandra Dalton, Grade 7, Hannan High School, Ashton
Grades 9-12
First Place - Sean Robinette, Grade 12, Mingo County Career Center, Williamson
Second Place - William D. Wills, Grade 12, Mingo County Career Center, Williamson
Third Place - Brady C. Fields, Grade 12, Mingo County Career Center, Williamson
Third Place - Staphaine A. Staley, Grade 12, Mingo County Career Center, Williamson
SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS HONOR ROLL
Charleston Stage Company, Charleston
HOPE Community Development Corporation, Charleston
Women’s Health Center of West Virginia, Charleston
“LIVING THE DREAM” AWARDS
Debra Milder Weinstein, Charleston, Advocate of Peace
Adolphus A. Young, Jr., Mount Hope, Human and Civil Rights
Dr. Trevellya Ford-Ahmed, Athens, Ohio, Scholarship
Oree Banks, Dunbar, Sharing of Self
Mary Crozier Snow, Charleston, Governor’s Living the Dream Award
The mission of the Commission is to provide programs celebrating the life and principles of King’s philosophy of non-violence, lengthening his legacy. Strengthened by diversity, the Commission draws together members who strive to create opportunity for growth, leadership and power in order to attain a common vision: peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all people.
The West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History, an agency of the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History, brings together the state’s past, present and future through programs and services in the areas of archives and history, the arts, historic preservation and museums. The Cultural Center is West Virginia’s official showcase for the arts. Visit the Division’s website at www.wvculture.org for more information about programs of the Division. The Department of Arts, Culture and History is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.
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Ginny Painter
Director of Public Information
West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History
The Cultural Center
1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East
Charleston, WV 25305-0300
Phone (304) 558-0220
Fax (304) 558-2779
ginny.painter@wvculture.org