King art, essay entries, awards nominees due today

The Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Art and Essay Contest has the theme, "Remember! Celebrate! Act! -- What Would Dr. King Say If He Were Alive Today?"

For the art contest for kindergarten to 12th grade, submitted artwork should relate to the theme. Picture an activity, something that an individual or group could do which exemplify his teaching and philosophy. It must be no larger that 16 by 20 inches and be mounted or matted for hanging. The entry form must be completely filled out and pasted or taped to the back of the artwork.

For the essay contest for seventh to 12th grades, essays should relate to the theme. Describe an activity, something that an individual or group could do which exemplify his teaching and philosophy. Entries must be no more than 250 words, typed or neatly written on 8.5 x 11-inch white paper. It must be mounted or matted for hanging. The entry form must be completely filled out and taped to the back of the mounted or matted essay.

All entries must be submitted by 4 p.m. today to Dorothy Brandon at the city hall, 150 Dexter Court in Elgin. A school representative, parent, family or church member must make a student's submission. A panel using the following criteria will judge all entries. How well the art or essay represents the student's understanding of King's ideas of civil rights, creativity and originality and how well the art or essay communicates the theme.

For the art contest, first- to third-place awards will be presented in each of four groups: grades K-3, 4-6, 7-8 and 9-12.

For the essay contest, first- to third-place awards will be presented in each of two groups: grades 7-8 and 9-12. The first-place winner will receive $100; second-place winners receive $75; and third-place winners receive $50.

The winning student and their principal or person who submitted their entry will be notified by Jan. 4. Awards will be presented at the Martin Luther King Jr. public program at 4 p.m. Jan. 20 at Larkin High School auditorium in Elgin.

Nominations due today: The Elgin Human Relations Commission and the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Committee are now accepting applications through today for the 2008 Dr. King Celebration Awards.

Applications for the following awards are available at the city hall, 150 Dexter Court. Or download an application from the city's Web site at www.cityofelgin.org, under "Online Forms" and "Human Resources."

The deadline is for all categories: humanitarian, scholarship, and art and essay. For information, call Dorothy Brandon at (847) 931-5618.

Nominations are open to individuals, businesses, and organizations whose contributions to the Elgin community preserve King's philosophy of love, justice, and equality for all mankind and his teachings of peace through nonviolence. Nominations should include specific examples.

All individual nominees must reside or work in the city of Elgin. Businesses or organizations must be located in the city. No member of the human relations commission or their immediate family is eligible to participate, unless they are part of a group or organization that is named as an award candidate. Previous years winners are not eligible.

Awardees will be recognized in the following categories: housing; civil rights advocacy; education; business and industry; religion; community relations; and youth empowerment and mentoring.

Nominations must be typewritten. Judging will be based solely on the criteria provided on the nomination form. Handwritten nominations will not be considered.