Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Commission Celebration & Day of Service
2025 Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Commission Celebration & Day of Service
“Today, our very survival depends on our ability to stay awake, to adjust to new ideas, to remain vigilant and to face the challenge of change." Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr
The Howard County Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission, in partnership with the Howard County Office of Human Rights & Equity and County Executive Dr. Calvin Ball, successfully hosted a family-friendly, multicultural celebration to commemorate the life and achievements of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on January 11th of last year. The event, held at the Horowitz Center Smith Theatre at Howard Community College, featured musical performances, dramatic presentations, and a keynote address, as well as the recognition of the 2024 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. "Living the Dream" Award recipients and winners of the student oratory, essay, and poster contests. The following day, on January 12th, the Harriet Tubman Cultural Center played host to an interactive Day of Service, where community members came together to honor Dr. King's legacy through a tribute room, a Read-In with community members reading books about Dr. King, and service activities suitable for all ages.
2025 Contest Winners
Elementary School, Middle & High School Poster Contest
Elementary School Poster Contest
- 1st Place: Calvin Peng
- 2nd Place: Rehan T. Syed
- 3rd Place: Andre Bryan
- 3rd Place: Nikhil Vendan Rathinam
Middle School Poster Contest
- 1st Place: Ayan Patel
- 2nd Place: Jordan Knight
High School Poster Contest
- 1st Place: Yiran Xiao
- 2nd Place: Hailey Hyde
- 3rd Place: Karter Shorts
Middle School & High School Essay Awards
Middle School Essay Contest
- 1st Place: Alyssa Bryan
- 2nd Place: Darshit Gedela
- 3rd Place: Tara Oye-Awofeso
High School Essay Contest
- 1st Place: Jocara Knight,Jr.
- 2nd Place: Vivian Cai
- 3rd Place: Kekeli Dedjoe
Middle School & High School Oratory Contests
Middle School Oratory Contest
- 1st Place: Jadesayo Isabella Akinbinu
Annual Living the Dream Award
The Commission also sought nominations for its annual Living the Dream Award. This award recognizes individuals and organizations that promote the teachings and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. through community involvement.
- Living the Dream Award- Betania Adane
- Living the Dream Award - Organization Harriet Tubman Foundation
- Living the Dream Award - Student Eliab Belete
2025 Annual High School Food Drive Competition Results
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission began its High School Food Drive Competition four years ago with the objective of collecting non-perishable food and personal items (diapers, wipes, etc.) for the Howard County Food Bank. The annual Food Drive Competition values give young people the opportunity to honor King’s legacy through community service. Since 2019, most of Howard County’s high schools have participated.
The following High Schools participated in the annual MLK High School Food Drive Competition and together, raised 2128 pounds of food, which was donated to the Howard County Food Bank: Guilford Park High School, Glenelg High School, Long Reach High School, Reservoir High School, and River Hill High School.
Congratulations to Glenelg High School for winning this year's Howard County MLK Commission High School Food Drive Competition! This is Glenelg's first time winning the food drive competition, raising a total of 1,062 pounds of donations for the Howard County Food Bank. This was nearly double the amount of the school that came in second place.