DALLAS and HOUSTON, Jan. 18,
2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, 20 Texas elementary school
students honored Dr. Martin Luther King
Jr. by channeling his passion and charisma during the final
rounds of the Annual Foley Gardere MLK Jr. Oratory Competitions in
Dallas and Houston. For the competitions, the students
answered the question, "What would Dr. King say to the children of
today's world?"
Winners included Jasira King, a fourth-grade student from
William Brown Miller Elementary School in Dallas, and Nyla
Johnson, a fifth-grader from Lockhart Elementary School in
Houston.
A total of roughly 300 fourth- and fifth-grade students
representing 40 schools from the Dallas and Houston Independent School
Districts competed in the in-school qualifying rounds last fall.
One student from each school was selected to advance to the
semifinals. From there, eight students from Dallas and 12 from Houston were selected to advance to the final
competitions Jan. 18.
At all three levels of the competition, students were evaluated
on the basis of delivery, stage presence and decorum, content
interpretation and memorization. During the finals, panels of
locally renowned community and business leaders judged the students
on their performances.
"Each year, the students amaze us with their oratory skills and
knowledge of Dr. King's legacy and message. Today was no
exception," says Michael Newman,
managing partner of Foley Gardere's
Dallas office. "The content of the
students' speeches was inspiring and insightful, and they truly
shined onstage. Foley Gardere is delighted to host this
unique event each year and to provide our community with a first
look at some of our future leaders."
Dallas's first-place winner,
Jasira King, framed up her speech by metaphorically relating life
to a relay marathon, suggesting that each generation should "run
their own course the best way they can" to reach the "finish line
of justice and equality."
Jasira relayed several pieces of advice that she believed Dr.
King would say to her generation – the children of today's world.
"Use your voice and eventually, your vote … Be quick to understand,
and slow to anger. Be quick to listen, and slow to walk away. Be
quick to comfort and slow to criticize." She closed her speech by
encouraging all generations never to stop moving forward in the
pursuit of peace. "If your feet are aching, get on your hands and
knees and crawl."
Jasira's three older siblings – Chinelo, Etana and Asad – have
all placed in the competition previously.
Tory Robertson Jr., a
fifth-grader at Clara Oliver Elementary School, earned second place
in the Dallas competition, and
Tynia Matts, a fifth-grader at John
Neely Bryan Elementary School, was awarded third place.
Houston's first-place winner,
Nyla Johnson, started her speech by
reminding the audience of the inalienable rights from the
Declaration of Independence, "life, liberty and the pursuit of
happiness." She then questioned whether current political actions
revoke these rights. The fifth-grader continued that if Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. were here
today he would say, "Although we have not fulfilled the dream, we
must not lose hope."
After taking the audience on a historical journey of injustices
turned into American successes by bringing people together, she
concluded that "America is great," and "will be greater because we
will continue to pursue life, liberty and happiness."
Asia Jefferson, a fifth-grade
student from Blackshear Elementary School, placed second in the
Houston competition, while
fourth-grader, Chrisette Wigfall, of
Askew Elementary School took home third place.
"The passion and skill shown by these students today is proof
that Dr. King's legacy continues to live on and shape the dreams of
today's youth," said Claude Treece,
chief administrative partner of Foley
Gardere and longtime event chair of the Houston competition. "These children are
society's future leaders and are intent on making a difference in
their communities. Our firm is honored to play a role in providing
a platform for them to express their dreams and aspirations for
building a brighter tomorrow."
Established in Dallas in
1993 by Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP – which on April 1, 2018, combined with Foley & Lardner
LLP – the Annual Foley Gardere MLK Jr. Oratory Competition is held
in conjunction with Martin Luther King
Jr. Day to encourage people to remember and pay tribute to
the late civil rights leader's legacy. Foley Gardere introduced the event to encourage
students to learn more about Dr. King and to help cultivate the
writing and speaking skills of elementary school students. The
event's success in Dallas led to
the establishment of the competition in Houston in 1997.
ABOUT FOLEY & LARDNER LLP
Foley & Lardner
LLP looks beyond the law to focus on the constantly evolving
demands facing our clients and their industries. With over 1,100
lawyers in 24 offices across the United
States, Mexico,
Europe and Asia, Foley approaches
client service by first understanding our clients' priorities,
objectives and challenges. We work hard to understand our clients'
issues and forge long-term relationships with them to help achieve
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as trusted business advisors because we understand that great legal
service is only valuable if it is relevant, practical and
beneficial to their businesses.
On April 1, 2018, Foley combined
with Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP. The combined firm operates as
Foley Gardere in Austin, Dallas and Houston. In Mexico
City, the firm operates as Foley
Gardere Arena. All other offices operate as Foley &
Lardner LLP.
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