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GLENN D. CUNNINGHAM MAYOR CITY HALL JERSEY CITY, NJ 07302 TEL:(201) 547-5200 FAX:(201) 547-4288

JERSEY CITY - Mayor Glenn D. Cunningham will host the final round of the 9th' Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Oratory Contest from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, February 27, 2004 in the City Hall Council Chambers, 280 Grove Street.

The contest, a tradition in honor of Black History Month and sponsored by the City and Fleet Bank, features students in grades three through eight delivering a variety of speeches, all of which were by Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. himself. The students are separated into two groups, grades three to five and grades six through eight.

There are six finalists in each age group, and judges from the community selected these students to advance to the final round following a preliminary contest held on Thursday, February 19 and Friday, February 20, 2004 in City Hall Council Chambers.

Prizes for each age group are a $500 savings bond for first prize, $250 savings bond for second prize, and a $100 savings bond for third prize. Each age group results in three honorable mentions, who receive books of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s speeches as inspiration for the next year's competition. In addition to the prizes, trophies and plaques are given to the six finalists in each age group.

"What better way to honor the legacy of the Rev. Martin Luther King, than to have his speeches read during Black History Month," Mayor Cunningham said. "Not only does it serve to educate the youth of our society about what role he played in civil rights, but it also demonstrates the impact he still has on society today."

This year's finalists in the third through fifth grade group are Soraya Hebron, School 38, fourth grade, "Speech At The Great March on Detroit;" Zahra Mahmood, School 11, fourth grade, "I Have A Dream;" Isaiah Oliveri, School 6, fourth grade, "Letter from Birmingham Jail;" Charmaine Robinson, School 41, fifth grade, "I Have A Dream;" Kamal Shah, School 27, fifth grade, "I Have A Dream;" and Devin Vines, School 41, fifth grade, "Speech To Be Determined."

This year's finalists in the sixth through eighth grade group are Lai-San Ho, St. Aloysius, seventh grade, "Why Jesus Called A Man A Fool;" Youssef Kalad, School 23, eighth grade, "I Have A Dream;" Gaciru Matathia, St. Patrick's, sixth grade, "The Purpose of Education;" Ashley McLean, School 41, eighth grade, "Drum Major Instinct;" Christina Raghunandan, School 38, eighth grade, "What is Your Life's Blue Print?" and Jorge Suening, St. Aedan, seventh grade, "I Have A Dream."

Along with the Mayor, a panel of judges and representatives from Fleet Bank will attend the contest, which is open to the public. Refreshments will be served following the award presentation.

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