PWCS
student
talent
was
on
display
at
the
annual
Martin
Luther
King
Jr.
(MLK)
Youth
Oratorical
Competition
and
Program
held
virtually
on
January
17,
2022.
Six
PWCS
middle
and
high
school
student
finalists
spoke
to
the
theme
"Beyond
Dreams
and
Mountains:
Her
Voice-Her
Mission,"
sharing
the
vision
of
unsung
heroines
of
the
Civil
Rights
Movement
past
and
present;
their
vision
and
work
and
how
it
aligns
with
Dr.
King's
vision.Now in its 32nd 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. 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.
In the virtual format, student finalists compete before a panel of judges in advance of the program. Community members then watch online on Martin Luther King Jr. Day and vote for their favorite orator using a text-to-vote feature. This year, over 2,000 viewers tuned into the event.
Congratulations to the following winners:
Best Before the Audience
Middle school winner: Shavonne Davis, Marsteller Middle School
High school winner: Varsha Jyothikaa Palaniyandy, Gar-Field High School
Best Before the Judges
Middle school winner: Mahmud Ibn Abdul-rahman Khabir, Bull Run Middle School
High school winner: Varsha Jyothikaa Palaniyandy, Gar-Field High School
Partial performances from the Best Before the Judges winners, Palaniyandy and Khabir, are available on YouTube. The event, including all of the PWCS performances, is available online.