
PWCS
student
talent
was
everywhere
on
display
as
members
of
the
Martin
Luther
King
Jr.
Virtual
Community
Choir
performed
and
graduate
and
former
program
winner
Norman
Jones
III
gave
a
moving
memorial
tribute
to
Congressman
John
Lewis,
to
kick
off
the
2021
Martin
Luther
King
Jr.
(MLK)
Youth
Oratorical
Competition
and
Program
held
on
January
18,
2021.
Yet,
creative
flair,
combined
with
hard
work,
time,
and
effort,
were
nowhere
more
evident
than
in
the
impassioned
speeches
of
this
year's
student
presenters,
three
of
whom
are
PWCS
students:
Nyela
Asterilla-Anderson,
Freedom
High
School;
Amber
Austin,
Patriot
High
School;
and
Zion
Fozo,
Potomac
High
School.
Congratulations
to
Nyela,
a
ninth
grader,
who
took
second
place
in
this
year's
audience-driven
competition.
Now
in
its
31st
year,
the
oratorical
program
is
sponsored
by
the
Prince
William
County
Alumnae
Chapter
of
Delta
Sigma
Theta
Sorority,
Inc.
(PWCAC
DST)
in
affiliation
with
the
Delta
Research
and
Educational
Foundation.
Due
to
the
COVID-19
pandemic,
the
sorority
opted
to
pivot
from
its
traditional
format
of
promoting
school
competitions,
a
regional
competition,
and
then
the
in-person
event
at
the
Hylton
Memorial
Chapel
on
the
King
holiday,
to
a
free,
virtual
performance
and
call
for
text
voting
from
the
viewing
audience
to
select
winners.
The
fourth
and
fifth
grade
writing
contest
was
not
held
this
year.
Those
chosen
for
this
year's
presentations
were
four
of
those
recognized
from
the
2020
event,
who
gave
new
speeches
based
on
a
new
theme,
"Beyond
the
Dream:
Young
Voices
with
Something
to
Say."
Community
leaders,
educators,
parents,
students,
and
supporters
from
across
Prince
William
County
and
other
areas
signed
on
to
listen,
cheer,
and
post
messages
of
support
and
encouragement
for
the
students
who
took
on
the
inspiring
challenge
of
echoing
Martin
Luther
King
Jr.'s
compelling
message
of
peace
and
brotherhood
through
oratory.
Rather
than
performances
and
speeches
before
judges
and
a
live
audience
of
thousands,
this
year's
program
was
broadcast
online
via
the
sorority's
YouTube
channel.
PWCS
School
Board
member
Lillie
Jessie
(Occoquan
District),
who
is
also
a
sorority
member,
is
the
founder
and
first
chairperson
of
the
MLK
Youth
Oratorical.
This
year's
program
included
a
historical
prelude
featuring
remarks
from
Jessie
and
highlighting
portions
of
Dr.
King's
original
speech.
In
a
letter
of
support,
School
Board
Chairman-At-Large
Dr.
Babur
Lateef
expressed
his
appreciation
to
PWCAC
Delta
Sigma
Theta
Sorority
and
congratulated
all
the
presenters.
"This
celebration
is
not
only
a
time
to
remember
Dr.
King,
but
also
to
celebrate
the
diversity
of
the
participants
in
the
youth
oratorical
contest,
and
how
they
define
the
inclusive
world
imagined
by
Dr.
King,"
he
said.
"By
introducing
thought-provoking
questions
that
stretch
their
minds,
we
help
young
people
learn
to
grow.
The
parents,
teachers,
volunteers,
and
members
of
the
Delta
Sigma
Theta
Sorority
who
have
helped
with
this
virtual
event
and
inspired
their
students
on
this
educational
journey
deserve
high
praise
and
our
gratitude,"
said
Superintendent
of
Schools
Dr.
Steven
L.
Walts,
who
also
noted
that
the
choice
of
this
year's
theme
helps
us
consider
our
"place
in
the
world
and
imagine
opportunities
to
affect
valuable
change."
The
event,
including
the
student
presentations,
is
available
for
viewing
from
the
PWCAC
DST
website.