FARMINGTON—Each year, the Davis School District holds a Martin Luther King, Jr. speech contest where students of all ages compete with excerpts from King’s words. The three winners presented their speeches at the school board meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 6. 

“My partner here, Mr. Carpenter, and I have the privilege of introducing to you some students who stood out in our Martin Luther King speech competition,” said Assistant Superintendent, Dr. Fidel Montero. “There are events we do as a school district that are wonderful and then there are events that leave a legacy. In my opinion, this particular event is a legacy building event for our school district and for our students. Not just because of their talent that you’re going to see, but for the power behind the words they will be speaking.”

“We are proud to present three winners of our MLK speech contest," said OEO District Coordinator, Chris Carpenter. “Students whose words reflect dignity, courage and vision for a stronger future.”

Carpenter introduced the winners before they performed. “Today we’re going to hear from Jane Alvey, a second grader from Parkside Elementary, Andrea Cole, a fourth grader from Holbrook Elementary and Beatrice Etter an 11th grader from Farmington High School.”

Alvey presented Martin Luther King’s 1968 speech titled "Remaining Awake for a Great Revolution.”

“My name is Jane and I’m from Parkside Elementary," said Alvey. “I am in the second grade and I am seven. I picked this speech because I think we should all be nice to each other like a family. When I am nice to my neighbors they know I’m their friend.”

Andrea Cole, a fourth grader from Holbrook Elementary performs "I Have a Dream."

 “I want to talk about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s ‘I Have a Dream,'" said Cole. “I chose this topic because my family story shows how Dr. King’s dream still matters today.”

This is Etter’s 10th year to compete in the contest. “This means I listened to countless hours of different speeches given by my competitors, some of which were my friends as well as my siblings when they competed.”

Although she’s entered and competed in this contest nine times, Etter said she has never used any portion of the very famous, “I Have a Dream’ speech.” “When I first entered the contest I was advised not to use that particular speech because it was very popular. We were encouraged to branch out and become familiar with the many other great speeches given by Martin Luther King, Jr.”

Etter said she took that advice throughout elementary and junior high. “But now I feel propelled to share excerpts of Martin Luther King’s most famous speech because of some of the high focus on events happening in our country.”

It was estimated on Aug. 28, 1963, about 250,000 people of all races gathered outside the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., to hear the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. speak during the march on Washington for jobs and freedom, she said. “This event consisted of a mile long march from the Washington Monument to the Lincoln Memorial in honor of Pres. Abraham Lincoln who had signed the emancipation proclamation a century earlier.”

Beatrice Etter, an 11th grader from Farmington High School, performs excerpts from MLK's speech, "I Have A Dream." This is Etter's 10th year competing. Photos by Becky Ginos

 Etter proceeded to present several different excerpts from the speech.

“Beatrice, that was amazing,” said Board President, Brigit Gerrard. “Thank you so much. You’ve become somewhat of an expert on the Martin Luther King speeches and we’re so grateful that you are.”