Eighth-Grader Rayan Taku, Fifth Graders Amaya Hicks, Julian Orrego Named Winners in MLK Essay Contest

Posted on: January 22, 2024
Salem Public Schools Martin Luther King essay contest

Winners recognized Monday at Salem State’s MLK Convocation and Celebration

SALEM (Jan. 22, 2023) – Salem Public Schools eighth-grade student Rayan Taku and fifth graders Amaya Hicks and Julian Orrego were each named the co-winners of Salem State University’s Center for Justice and Liberation Martin Luther King, Jr., Essay Contest, the Center announced last Wednesday.

Mr. Taku, a student at the Collins Middle School, shared the honor with Dhanvi Kasula of Salem Academy Charter School for the middle school division while Ms. Hicks, a student at the Horace Mann Laboratory School, and Mr. Orrego, a student at the Saltonstall School, were named co-winners of the elementary school division.

Maddisyn Washington, a fifth-grade student at Horace Mann, earned Honorable Mention honors for her essay.

The MLK Essay Contest is hosted by SSU’s Center for Justice and Liberation and is part of its Annual MLK Convocation and Luncheon.

All four students were honored at the Convocation which took place at SSU’s Veterans Memorial Hall. Each received a check for $50 and a copy of the book “March,” by late Congressman John Lewis.

The subject matter for this year’s essay was titled, “It starts with me: How can I put into practice the Kingian Non-Violence Model?”

Mr. Taku’s essay discussed a lesser-known speech by Dr. King in which he was quoted saying, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness. Hate cannot drive out hate. Only love can do that.” 

Mr. Taku described how Dr. King’s words meant that violence only leads to more violence. He also wrote that the quote has inspired him to become more mature, to be a more of a leader and to be a calming influence in times of conflict.

In her essay, Ms. Hicks discussed how Dr. King’s influence has taught her how to treat everyone with equality, honesty and respect as well as the power of peaceful protests to bring change. She also noted how important it is to preserve and echo Dr. King’s words for generations to come.

Mr. Orrego offered a unique perspective on the Kingian Non-Violence Model principles: To gather as much information as possible to understand a problem or injustice in the community and, in a conflict, to “become an expert” on the opposing view while educating others peacefully.

In her essay, Ms. Washington wrote about not only how she sees the Kingian Nonviolence Model on a daily basis, but how she uses it to intervene and support the oppressed in a conflict. 

The MLK Campus Celebration at Salem State is currently in its 34th year.

To find out more about the Celebration and SSU’s Center for Justice and Liberation, visit salemstate.edu.

About Salem Public Schools

Salem Public Schools is an urban public school district in Salem, Massachusetts. Salem is a small, diverse city with a proud maritime and immigrant history. Our leaders and our teachers are all passionate about education and understand the urgency of improving student achievement with equity and social-emotional needs as the lens we view all of our work through. We respect and value the racial, cultural, and linguistic diversity of our students and their families, and have a strong commitment to the Salem community. Salem Public Schools staff serve all of our students, regardless of ability or language. Salem Public Schools enrolls approximately 4,000 students across its eleven schools. 

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