19 Jan 2010
Young Student Committed to the Dream
DALLAS—Tamia Gaines, a fifth-grader at John Neely Bryan Elementary School, is the winner of the 18th Annual Gardere MLK Jr. Oratory Competition which was recently held at The Majestic Theatre.
Tamia Gaines captured the first place title with an engaging speech, declaring she would "not let [Dr. King's] dreams die," crediting the civil rights leader for giving her the confidence to know she can be anything as long as she has good character. The aspiring attorney challenged others not to "hate" but "appreciate."
As the first-place winner, Gaines received a $1,000 savings bond and was flown to New York to appear on the The CBS Early Show.
Courtnie Ivey, a fifth-grade student at R.L. Thornton Elementary, won second place, and Alexis Van Zandt, a fifth-grader from Clara Oliver Elementary School placed third.
During the final competition, eight fourth- and fifth-grade students presented original essays addressing the topic. "What will I be able to achieve in my life because of what Dr. King achieved in his?"
Students were judged by a panel of local community and business leaders who rated the competitors on their delivery, stage presence and decorum, content, interpretation, and memorization of their original speeches.
Sponsored by Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP and co-presented by the Dallas Independent School District, the oratory competition celebrated its 18th anniversary this year. It was established in 1993 to commemorate the legacy of the late civil rights leader and to highlight the cultural diversity of the community while acknowledging and encouraging the writing and speaking skills of elementary school students.