Olathe Students Enter MLK Contest Focusing on Diversity

Jan. 4, 2012 ~ More than 2,000 Olathe Public Schools' students hope their entry in the Celebrate Diversity 2012 contest will be a winner. The middle and high school students submitted works in the essay, visual arts, and multi-media categories.

Each year the district partners with the City of Olathe's Human Relations Commission to sponsor a Martin Luther King Jr.-related contest. This year's theme, "The Courage to Believe," will be judged by up to 15 community, Olathe NAACP, and Olathe Human Relations Commission members.

The goal of the contest, according to City of Olathe Human Relations Manager Victor Glover, is to increase awareness, foster greater understanding, and celebrate the diversity of the Olathe community.

The public can view the entries during the Martin Luther King Community Open House from 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Jan. 12, 2012, in the Olathe City Hall, 100 E. Santa Fe. The final round of judging will begin at 5:30 p.m. that day.

Prizes of $100 to $300 will be awarded in the high school division, and middle school winners will receive prizes of $75 to $200. An overall Best of Show Award of $500 will also be presented. Mid-America Nazarene University is sponsoring the prizes this year.

Prairie Trail Middle School, 21600 W. 107th St., Olathe, will host the Martin Luther King Jr. Noonday Celebration from noon-1:30 p.m. Jan. 13. Awards will be presented to the contest winners at this event.

The winners will also be honored at the Community Prayer Breakfast on Jan. 16. The public is invited but RSVPs are requested to Evie Kowalewski, (913) 971-3391 or ekowalewski@mnu.edu.