On Saturday, January 14th, five Saint Joseph School students were recognized for their winning poetry at the Worcester State University 29th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Youth Celebration. This year’s poetry contest theme was “Give Us the Ballot: My Civil Right – Voting,” based on the King family’s recent call to action. Arndrea Waters King said, “Voting is essential to our democracy’s infrastructure, and we cannot afford for it to crumble any further.” In addition, Martin Luther King III and his family stated last year that “there should be no MLK Jr. Day celebrations without meaningful voting rights legislation.”
The poetry contest was open to 7th – 12th-grade students. Entries were judged by the MLK Jr. Poetry Committee, which consisted of a panel of educators, university students, and community members. Criteria included creativity, originality, style, and how the poems addressed the theme. Saint Joseph School Language Arts instructor Mrs. Karen Lefebvre invited all her students to participate. The following were selected as winners by the MLK Jr. Poetry Committee: Grade 7: Molly Hachigian, Alvin Montreuil, and Ella Parslow; Grade 8: Alexander Kowalski and Gianna Rosario. While attending the celebration, the students were awarded certificates and gifts. They also had the opportunity to meet Worcester State University President Barry Maloney and Congressman Jim McGovern. Congratulations to Saint Joseph School’s poets!
Photo Description: Saint Joseph School Winning Poets attended the Worcester State University 29th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Youth Celebration on January 14th and were recognized for their work. (Left to Right) Saint Joseph School Principal Beth Boudreau, Grade 7 Student Ella Parslow, Saint Joseph School 6th-8th Grade Language Arts Instructor Karen Lefebvre, Grade 7 Student Alvin Montreuil, Congressman Jim McGovern, and Grade 8 Student Gianna Rosario (Not pictured Grade 7 Student Molly Hachigian and Grade 8 Student Alex Kowalski)
