The Tribune

For the eighth consecutive year, the United States Embassy has sponsored the nationwide contest to mark the United States’ observance of Black History Month.

Dr Martin Luther King became the youngest person ever to receive a Nobel Peace Prize in October 1964. He received the award for leading non-violent resistance to racial prejudice.

Students were asked to explain what it meant to them to be a champion for social justice, human rights and/or equality. They were also asked to identify and discuss a Bahamian who has been a champion in their community and what lessons have they learned from them to influence their role as a “change agent” in their own community.

The students were asked to articulate the similarities between the American and Bahamian human rights and social justice movements, and all high school students in the Bahamas in grades 10-12 were invited to participate in the essay contest.

The winners of this year’s competition were Gabrielle Moss and Ashlee Hudson, of Bishop Michael Eldon High School in Grand Bahama, and Durante Charlow, of Doris Johnson High School in New Providence.

Janelle Watkins, of St John’s College in New Providence, and David Ferguson, of Bishop Michael Eldon High School in Grand Bahama, were also given honourable mention for their essays.

The top students will receive an Apple iPad or an Apple iPad mini. This year, the Embassy received 55 essays from public and private high schools in New Providence, Grand Bahama, and the Family Islands. The top winners will be formally recognised by US Charg� d’Affaires John Dinkelman during an official awards recognition ceremonies.