2022 MLK Student Essay Winners

At left, student winner Isaac Poblanco, an 8th-grader at Peary Middle School, hugs
committee member Gerrie Buffett after receiving his certificate. He placed third in
the middle school category.

Above, student Han Gia Tran collects her 2nd-place essay certificates in the 2022
MLK Essay Contest. Flanking Han, from left, are Rosemary Martinez, administrator
– LAUSD, Gardena Community of Schools, Michael Romero, Local Dist. South
Superintendent and Shirley McCarty of the Gardena MLK scholarship committee.
Students also receive a certificate from the city of Gardena and scholarship money
from the MLK Cultural Committee.

Above, Principal Mark Pile of Avalon Gardens Elementary School
stands with two essay winners from his school. At left is Lamar Brooks,
a 4th grader, and at right is Antonio Curiel, a 5th grader. Lamar won
third place in the 2022 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Essay Contest, while
Antonio was a second-place winner. The presentation of awards took
place on Jan. 29 in front of the Nakaoka Community Center.

Tlali Galindo rushes to receive her certificates as the first-place winner
in the 49th annual City-Wide Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Essay Contest.

Members of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Cultural Committee of Gardena gathered at the 49th annual Essay Contest to congratulate the student winners. From left are Roberta Lynch, Freddie Williams, Gerri Buffett (secretary/scholarship),
Shirley McCarty (scholarship committee), Chairperson and City Councilwoman Paulette Francis, LaVerne Knight (chariperson emeritus), Kassandra Jasper (treasurer) and Artemease Bailey (assistant treasurer). Not pictured are committee
members Renee Anderson (scholarship), Carrie Scott, Sheridan Sempers and Kimberlee Anderson. The Cultural Committee plans, supports, helps to organize events and provides scholarships to students for all Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
activities in the city of Gardena. Gardena is the first city west of the Mississippi to honor Dr. King with annual activities, including a parade, and was founded by Arthur Johnson and co-founder Mary Zucconi. This year’s MLK Parade is
slated for Saturday, Feb. 26 to tie in with Black History Month and Gardena’s Afternoon in the Park activities

Ciara Jackson, an 8th-grade student at Maria Regina School, was a first place essay winner in the Middle School category. She is flanked by Rosie Martinez, administrator – LAUSD,
Gardena Community of Schools, from left, District South Superintendent Michael Romero and Shirley McCarty, MLK Essay Contest chair. Student winners also received cash prizes
from the MLK Cultural Committee.

At right, Michael Romero, Local District South Superintendent, addresses the student essay winners on Saturday. Six of the eight essay winners were in attendance to collect certificates and scholarship money from the sponsoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Cultural Committee of Gardena and the city of Gardena.

Not in
attendance were
Alexander Cardenas
(first place in
the high school
division) and Mariah
Phamilton (2nd
place). Both are
students of Gardena
High School.
Photos by Gary
Kohatsu

At left, not in
attendance were
Alexander Cardenas
(first place in
the high school
division) and Mariah
Phamilton (2nd
place). Both are
students of Gardena
High School.
Photos by Gary
Kohatsu