Carroll County students in grades 4 through 12 are invited to write an essay, a poem, a song or any other form of written expression that shows how they are continuing Martin Luther King’s dream by making a difference in their community and their own lives. The theme of this year’s writing contest and Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration is “The Beloved Community: Our Shared Responsibility.”

Winners will be notified by January 25 and will be recognized during the MLK celebration dinner and “King’s Dream” multi-media presentation at 5:30 p.m. February 1 in the Forum at McDaniel College.

The contest is sponsored by McDaniel College, Carroll County Public Schools’ Department of Minority Achievement and Intervention Programs, Carroll County Chapter of NAACP and the Carroll County Times.

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Written submissions for the contest should be no longer than 250 words for elementary students and 500 words for middle and high school students. Submissions must be the original work of the student. Each entry must include the student’s name, phone number, school, grade and teacher’s name and contact number. Click here to download the MLK Writing Contest Entry Form in pdf format.

All entries are due on January 15, 2010. Please send final entries to:

Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs (ODMA)
McDaniel College
2 College Hill
Westminster, MD 21157-4390.

Submissions may also be hand delivered to the office on the lower level of Rouzer Hall, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday except December 24 – January 3.

The writing contest committee strongly encourages teachers to pre-screen entries, and students should submit their entries to their teachers no later than Friday, January 8. However, teacher pre-screening is not required, and students may submit their entries directly to the contest.

For more information about the writing contest or to attend the February 1 celebration (seating is limited), call or e-mail Mahlia Joyce at 410-857-2791 or mjoyce@mcdaniel.edu. Note that McDaniel College is closed December 24 – January 3.

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A Day On, Not a Day Off – January 18, 2010
Looking for opportunities to remember and honor Dr. King through service on January 18th?

Consider joining us for the following activities...

• Volunteer to package supplies for local shelters.
• Join a teach-in on non-violence.
• Watch a film and discover ten things everyone should know about race.
• Chat and chew over issues of social justice at a free lunch at McDaniel College.
• All of the above.

All activities will be held on the McDaniel College campus.

Schedule of Events
10:00 am – 11:00 am  View a “Class Divided” Video (Decker Auditorium)
11:00 am – 11:30 am  Breakout Discussions on the video (Lewis Hall of Science Classrooms)

All afternoon activites are in McDaniel Lounge
11:30 am – 12:00 pm  Service Learning Project for Shepherd Staff
12:00 pm – 12:30 pm  Lunch
12:30 pm – 2:00 pm   Non-violence Presentation
2:00 pm – 2:15 pm   Debrief the Day/Service Learning Reflection
2:15 pm – 2:30 pm   Evaluation

Click here to download the A Day On, Not a Day Off schedule and response form. The deadline to respond is Friday, January 8, 2010. Send responses to:

Nora Murray
Carroll County Public School
125 North Court Street
Westminster, MD 21157

chmurra@carrollk12.org

Learn more about the national Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service at http://www.mlkday.gov/.

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Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration – February 1, 2010

Join us as we celebrate Dr. King with a dinner featuring some of his favorite foods, a special award presentation to winners of the writing contest, and an enthralling live performance and multimedia tribute entitled, KING’S DREAM.

Schedule of Events
5:30 pm  –  Dinner
6:00 pm  –  Welcome
6:05 pm  –  ODMA Welcome & Thank you to sponsors
6:10 pm  –  Official Welcome
6:15 – 6:30 pm – Awards Presentations
6:30 pm  –  “King’s Dream” Performance and Multimedia Tribute
7:15 pm  –  Closing Remarks

KING’S DREAM, is an enthralling live performance and multimedia presentation that offers a rousing tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the Nobel Peace Prize recipient who led America’s peaceful revolution for equal rights for all. For those who don’t remember Dr. King, the era comes alive with images, singers, and songs that capture the spirit of the civil rights movement. Songs include the gospel hymn Amazing Grace, freedom songs We Shall Overcome and Lift Every Voice and Sing, composer Bob Dylan's classic Blowin' In the Wind, What's Going On, Everything Must Change, and others.

For others the era is recalled with captivating big screen video images that tell the story of the life and teachings of the preeminent human rights activist of the 2Oth century, and the courageous individuals like Rosa Parks, the Arkansas Nine, and the Freedom Fighters, who participated in the movement. Thought provoking live narrative tells story of the turbulent 1960's, a time in American history that was dramatic, powerful and at points painful. The challenges of Vietnam War, the assassination of president John F. Kennedy, and the final signing of the Civil Rights Act by president Lyndon B. Johnson,
are all revealed in the KING’S DREAM program. Join in celebrating King’s legacy and his vision of tolerance, diversity and peace!

Click here to download an information flier.

To reserve your seat (space is limited) and for more information contact:

Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs
410-857-2791 or odma@mcdaniel.edu

This event is co-sponsored by McDaniel College, Carroll County Public Schools’ Department of Minority Achievement and Intervention Programs, Carroll County Chapter of NAACP and the Carroll County Times.