Prince William County Public Schools

Students took on the inspiring challenge of echoing Martin Luther King Jr.'s compelling message of peace and brotherhood through oratory at the 30th Annual Youth Oratorical Contest, held as part of the annual King Day Celebration at the Hylton Memorial Chapel in Woodbridge.

After weeks of research, preparation, and practice, selected middle and high school students from Prince William County, Manassas City, and Manassas Park City school divisions showed off their speaking skills as hundreds of community leaders, educators, parents, and supporters listened.

Chosen at regional oratorical competitions, the following PWCS students gave moving presentations at the ceremony as a tribute to Dr. King, focused on the prompt, "Let Freedom Ring."

Middle school finalists (in alphabetical order by student name):

• Nyela Asterilla Anderson, Hampton Middle School
• Kamari Chisolm, Bull Run Middle School

• Zion Fozo, Potomac High School
• Jessica Gyamfi, Charles J. Colgan Sr. High School
• Hanaan Khabir, Osbourn Park High School

These PWCS students took top awards on the day of the program:

• Amber Austin, Marsteller Middle School, was chosen as the middle school recipient of the Judge's Choice/Honorable Mention Award.
• Jarius Alexander, Brentsville District High School, was chosen as the high school recipient of the Judge's Choice/Honorable Mention Award.
• And, congratulations to Potomac High School junior, Zion Fozo, who earned the event's top award at the high school level, Best Before the Audience.

These previously announced winners of the MLK Writing Contest for fourth- and fifth-grade students, held earlier in January, were also recognized at the event.

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Oratorical Competition and Program is coordinated and supported by the Delta Research and Education Foundation in affiliation with Prince William County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and in conjunction with the Cecil & Irene Hylton Foundation.