U-46 students invited to write on 'How King changed the world'

Elgin Area School District U-46 is launching a new Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Scholars Program that recognizes talented secondary student writers and artists in honor of the slain civil rights leader.

Fifteen students, one from each of the district's middle and high schools, will be awarded a Certificate of Excellence at a January ceremony for their essay about King's legacy. Another student will be recognized for creating the medallion that will be awarded to the winning essay writers.

"This inaugural Scholars Program encourages students to think critically about the world around them and remember Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. throughout the year, not just for one day," said U-46 CEO Tony Sanders. "The students who are invited to respond to this essay prompt have a chance to inspire us as they remember a leader who showed us a better way through his courage, love and service to humanity."

Secondary students will be asked to write an essay that addresses "How Dr. Martin Luther King Changed Our World." The Scholars Program candidates must be students in a district middle or high school and maintain a grade-point average of 2.5 or above. The essay must be 500-1,000 words. Interested students also need to submit their contact information, including a phone number and email address, and an Infinite Campus record with grades and GPA.

The Scholars Program also includes a medallion design competition. The design winner will be recognized with a Certificate of Excellence and medallion bearing their design. Students are asked to create a design for only the front side of the medal. The design should reflect the spirit of Martin Luther King and U-46. The border of the design must be circular, about 80 mm in diameter, and the U-46 logo should appear in the design.

Candidates of both the essay contest and the medallion design contest must also commit to participate in a 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 17, awards ceremony at the Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin.

The completed essay and medallion design applications must be submitted by 5 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 1, to Karina Luviano, the district's Pre K-20 College Readiness and Equity coordinator at karinaluviano@u-46.org or to the Educational Service Center, 355 E. Chicago Ave. in Elgin. Winners will be notified the week of Dec. 14.