Clarke Central High School junior Sterling Williams holds the poster for the Clarke County School District Martin Luther King Jr. Writing and Art Contest on Sept. 29 in the CCHS courtyard. Williams participated in the contest as a student at Clarke Middle School in seventh grade and will do so again this year. “I love that (the contest is) about (King’s) message, which can be really seen through different mediums, or in your everyday life,” Williams said. “I love that it gives that platform for (students) to express that.” Photo by Sasha Barkan
Submission at CCHS’ level of the district-wide Martin Luther King Jr. Writing and Art contest will be accepted until Oct. 29.
Clarke Central High School will accept visual and written contributions for the Clarke County School District annual Martin Luther King Jr. Writing and Art Contest until Oct. 29.
The contest, which aims to celebrate the life and legacy of civil rights activist Dr. King, accepts a variety of mediums, including essays, poetry, pastels and photography. All CCSD students are eligible to submit their work to their site coordinator or another school-level contest facilitator, with CCHS students expected to submit to English department co-chair David Ragsdale.
“We talk a lot about Martin Luther King Jr. in English classes. The goal (is) to have (students) draw connections for their own lives so that (the contest is) not just from a historical perspective, but they can relate it to concepts in his (writing),” CCHS Math and English Instructional Coach Ginger Lehmann, who serves as site coordinator, said.
An Instagram post from Nov. 8, 2024 shows the 2024 winners of the Clarke County School District Martin Luther King Jr. Writing and Art contest. Clarke Central High School junior Sterling Williams, who participated in the contest at Clarke Middle School as a seventh grader, found that the constraints of the contest led her to integrate artistic elements that were reminiscent of King into her art. “I was more symbolic with (my art). I did incorporate the portrait aspect (for) deeper meaning, which I loved. (My art) was more metaphorical,” Williams said. Post fair use of the CCSD
CCHS Class of 2025 alumnus Kevin Capcha, who won the CCHS competition for written work last year, which focused on the way mathematics is taught in school.
“Not a lot of people talk about African Americans with other minority groups (during the Civil Rights Movement who) were also being oppressed,” Capcha said. “I talked about the dynamics within a minority community, relating to my own culture and as a Hispanic. When you see one person being successful, you could appreciate and learn from them and uplift your own self. That’s what I think MLK was trying to go for.”
The goal (is) to have (students) draw connections for their own lives so that (the contest is) not just from a historical perspective, but they can relate it to concepts in his (writing).”
— Ginger Lehmann,
CCHS Math and English Instructional Coach
After submissions close, Lehmann and Ragsdale will choose one visual and one written piece to represent CCHS at the district-level competition by Nov. 3. In an era of political polarization, Lehmann believes this year’s contest’s importance is more pronounced.
“I’m certain many people see freedoms that Martin Luther King Jr. was fighting for at risk,” Lehmann said. “There’s certainly current events happening that feel less harmonious and unifying. So, students might see (the contest) as an opportunity to revisit some of (King’s) ideals and express their own take on it.”
