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Martin Luther King, Jr., West Virginia Holiday Commission presents awards during annual celebration on Jan. 14

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
[email protected]