Salem Main Street announces winners of Martin Luther King Jr. essay contest

SALEM — Using a quote from the civil rights leader as inspiration, Salem students entered the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Essay Contest.

“Faith is taking the first step even when you can’t see the whole staircase,” King once said.

Students used this quote in their essay, answering what this quote meant to them and what first steps they could take in their life and community to make a difference.

The essay contest was a part of Salem Main Street's 23rd Annual Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship & Awards Breakfast on Jan. 20.

The winners of the contest, held by Salem Main Street, are Salem High School student Tanner Humphreys, Salem Middle School student Aniya Eldridge and John Fenwick School student Kaela Nichols.

A volunteer panel of judges chose the winners from hundreds of written and drawn entries from each grade.

The following is a list of additional award winners by grade:

• Preschool: Yasir Lusby, Cyana Schrier and Jasmin Branton

• Kindergarten: Kylee Lindsay, Jer-Ry Harper and Shaniyah Rainner

• First grade: Ant’Zhiyah Parsley, Chemir Moncrief and Emanuel McFarlande

• Second grade: Asia Boulware, Izaiah Lindsey and Tamya Driver

• Third grade: Ja’Kai Sherrill, Miliani Warner and Taniyah Green

• Fourth grade: Shailyn Moncrief, Shaniya Lusby and Freddie Rouse

• Fifth grade: Tahj’ere Morris, Shaniya Saxton and Du’Shawn Badie

• Sixth grade: Destini Brooks, Bretya Tatem and Nazire Sims

• Seventh grade: Aariyana Gould, De’Meja Burdin and Hezekia Walker

• Eight grade: Galen Oliver, Destiny Jones and Giavante Hodges

• Ninth grade: Arianna Lapp, Chloe Mulhorn and Elise Davenport

• 10th grade: Thomas Poliski, Abby Sharp and Secoley Sheffield

• 11th grade: Naina Maldonado, Claude Johnson and Brian Zane

• 12th grade: Adam Jones, Olivia Harris and Ian McKee

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Contact staff writer Don E. Woods at 856-451-1000, ext. 518 or dwoods@southjerseymedia.com

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