Singing local youths' praises at Elgin MLK celebration
When she was younger, Allison Rychtanek, 15, read a book about bullying where a young person brought a gun to school and killed several classmates who had tormented him.
She said she knows the consequences of bullying aren't always so extreme, but it's a topic she is passionate about.
Her essay on bullying won the annual essay contest connected to Elgin's Martin Luther King Jr. celebration this weekend.
Rychtanek, an Elgin High School sophomore, was recognized Sunday during the MLK Community Program at The Hemmens Cultural Center. She read her winning submission, which invoked King's message to accept ourselves.
“Only when bullying is eliminated and everyone's true character is allowed to shine through will we truly be empowered,” Rychtanek said.
The musical, prayer-filled celebration also recognized three Elgin students for their submissions to an art contest with certificates and cash prizes. Their work will be displayed in the local 2012 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. calendar.
Janice Hare, co-chairman of the celebration committee, said a talented group of students entered the contest this year with impressive detail to the them e “Diversity is our strength! Unity is our goal! Empowerment is our destiny!”
Elgin High School senior Briana Hamilton won a $1,000 scholarship for college for her essay that spoke of the progress toward equality in this country since King's time, but of the work that is still to be done.
“There is always more that can be done to avoid the atrocities of inequality that have been stamped on our nation's history,” Hamilton said.
Hamilton plans to pursue a degree in journalism, possibly at Benedictine University.
Singers and dancers performed during the two-hour ceremony to an enthusiastic crowd. The free program was on the third day of Elgin's celebration with a youth day of service set to finish the long weekend Monday.
Joe Billups, 76, an Elgin resident since 1967, has been to practically every Martin Luther King Jr. celebration the city has hosted. He said the crowd at The Hemmens was smaller than it used to be, but more people have more ways to get involved now, because there are programs at colleges and churches.
Billups, who moved from Alabama to Elgin 45 years ago, said King's legacy is one of enlightenment.
“He brought the message to all people, and not just one race — everybody,” Billups said.