VGCC students encouraged to enter Martin Luther King contest

Vance-Granville Community College students are invited to participate in a creative contest as part of the college’s next Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday celebration, which is scheduled to be held on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2014 at 11 a.m. in the Civic Center on VGCC’s Main Campus in Vance County.

 

Students may write speeches, poems or short plays (between four and five minutes in length), create murals, collages or paintings, or produce short videos (less than five minutes in length) in response to this year’s topic. The topic was inspired by the recent 50th anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963, where Martin Luther King Jr. gave his “I have a Dream” speech at the Lincoln Memorial. Although 200,000-250,000 Americans were in attendance, no marchers were arrested and no incidents were reported.

 

The March on Washington gave the Civil Rights movement widespread support that led to the passing of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the 1965 Voting Rights Act. In this contest, students will use their speeches, poems, plays, artwork or videos to depict how these two acts have impacted the rights and privileges of Americans since they were passed. Students’ entries should include references to Martin Luther King Jr. and other Civil Rights leaders’ work for a peaceful transition to civil rights for all Americans.

 

Finalists will be asked to present their speech, play, poem, or video, and/or display their art object at the Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration on January 15, 2014. At that time, a panel of judges will award cash prizes to the top three participants. Students’ contributions will highlight this annual VGCC event, which will also include inspirational music. The celebration is free and open to the public.

 

Students who wish to participate in the contest must submit their entries in advance by 12:00 Noon on Jan. 3, 2014 to Suzanne Keil at keil@vgcc.edu or Betty Jo Ellis at ellisb@vgcc.edu .  For more information, call Suzanne Keil at (252) 738-3344 .