Students Honored for MLK Contest Awards at Laughlin Chapel | News, Sports, Jobs

On Monday, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, students from across West Virginia, including many from Ohio County, were celebrated for their contributions to the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Committee essay, film and song contests. These students’ entries may not have been extravagant, but committee members lauded them at Wheeling’s Laughlin Memorial Chapel for adding their offering to amplify King’s words and influence.

The theme for the contests this year, committee chair Ron Scott Jr. said, was, “If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way.”

“It lets you know that great things are possible, and that can you get there by doing small things,” Scott said. “It’s the contributions that add up that create the wonderful and great things that are memorable through history.”

Students could submit essays, a song or a film no longer than five minutes incorporating this year’s theme. What followed was a broad spectrum of examples of how students were making small but significant impacts in their own circles.

photo by: Photo by Derek Redd

Ron Scott Jr., chair of the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Committee, discusses the importance of the committee’s annual essay, movie and song contests Monday at Laughlin Memorial Chapel.

Triadelphia Middle School seventh-grader Amelia Copney, the first-place winner of the grades 6-8 essay contest, wrote about creating and posting signs in the girls’ bathroom with positive words for her classmates. In a society she feels often creates unattainable images for young girls, Copney wanted to remind her classmates they are loved and valued.

“I’m determined to help girls see their real beauty and worth,” Copley said. “As a middle schooler, I understand the feeling of being insecure and I know that most middle-school girls need validation. I want girls to know that the only validated or important opinion on how they look is their own.”

Wheeling Park High School senior Anthony Smith won first place in the song contest with a hip-hop contribution that cautions others not to judge people by their looks or where they come from.

“You shouldn’t judge somebody based off their looks,” he said. “You should get to know somebody and know their character before you judge. You can’t fault somebody because of how they’re born.”

Smith said the inspiration for the song came quickly. He listened to the instrumental track and jotted down the final lyrics right there. Smith also learned Monday that producers at Soundbox Studios in St. Clairsville heard the song and were impressed, offering Smith recording time at their facility.

photo by: Photo by Derek Redd

Judi Saunders, program coordinator at Laughlin Memorial Chapel, reads a book on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to students Monday.

Scott was proud of the contributions students made to this year’s contest, but was especially proud of how students in his hometown of Wheeling fared. Of the 16 awards given out, 15 of them were handed to Ohio County students.

“I love that,” Scott said. “It feels good to know that some of the things I consider substantial and I take seriously, a lot of the local folks are beginning to feel that way as well. And once you see them start to contribute, you get excited. And when you see them contribute and win, that’s even better.”

Winners for the 2023 contest include:

K-5 essay: first place, Easton Shrewsbury, Pineville Elementary; second place, Spencer Benedict, Bethlehem Elementary; third place, Kai’Veah Miles-Banks, Madison Elementary

6-8 essay: first place, Amelia Copney, Triadelphia Middle; second place, Brenna Tipton, Triadelphia Elementary; third place, Finnegan Gilbert, Triadelphia Elementary

photo by: Photo by Derek Redd

Acclaimed American tenor Edward Washington II teaches the audience the first verse to “Lift Every Voice And Sing” on Monday during the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration at Laughlin Memorial Chapel.

9-12 essay: first place, Elle Canestraro, Wheeling Central Catholic; second place, Peyton Smith, Wheeling Central Catholic; third place, Payton Hildebrand, Wheeling Central Catholic

K-5 film: first place, Ellie Breitenger, West Liberty Elementary; second place, Maddy Johnston, West Liberty Elementary; third place, Lily and Abigail, West Liberty Elementary

9-12 film: first place, Wheeling Central Catholic; second place, Wheeling Park High School

Song: first place, Anthony Smith, Wheeling Park High School; second place: Triton, Mason D, Konner and Wyatt, West Liberty Elementary

Monday’s celebration also included an appearance from acclaimed American tenor Edward Washington II, who taught the audience the first verse to “Lift Every Voice And Sing.” Children also stuck around at Laughlin Chapel to learn more about King through crafts and stories.