MLK Celebration Announces Schedule, Award Winners

|File photo| Ohio Valley residents participate in previous Interfaith March for Peace and Justice, part of the Ohio Valley's celebrations for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
WHEELING – The Wheeling Martin Luther King Celebration Committee has announced the winners of this year’s MLK and Rosa Parks awards, who will be honored during next week’s MLK events in the city.
MLK Award winners include the Rev. Kenny Hardway, Senior Minister at the First Christian Church in Wheeling; Donald Walters and Bishop James M. Agnew III of the Tree of Life Church in Martins Ferry. The Rosa Parks Award winners are Sister Carmella Campione and Tressie Fitshugh.
MLK Weekend events begin at 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 17, when Rabbi Joshua Lief presents a Shabbat Service at Temple Shalom, 23 Bethany Pike, in Wheeling. The public is welcome to attend.
At 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 18, there will be a student panel discussion at Wheeling University’s Troy Theater, 316 Washington Ave., Wheeling. Later in the evening, the Ohio Valley Festival for Filmmakers of Color will hold a presentation at 7 p.m. in the Troy Theater.
The annual MLK March in Wheeling is set for 2:15 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 19, through downtown Wheeling. Marchers will gather at the Windmill atop Martin Luther King Boulevard, and their march will end at West Virginia Northern Community College on 16th Street. Participants are encouraged to park near the college and either walk to the top of the hill to begin the march or take advantage of the free shuttle bus service.
The presentation of the MLK and Rosa Parks Awards is planned for 3 p.m. at WVNCC. An MLK Dinner follows at 4 p.m. at the Soup Kitchen of Greater Wheeling, 1610 Eoff St., Wheeling. An Interfaith Prayer Service and Awards Presentation will conclude Sunday’s events at 6 p.m. at Bethlehem Apostolic Temple, 330 Main St, Wheeling.
On Monday, there will be children’s programming at Laughlin Memorial Chapel, 129 18th St., Wheeling. The guests will include local students and the winners of the Martin Luther King essay, music, and video contests.
Winners include the following:
– Kindergarten-5th Grade Essay Competition: 1st – Allison Fink, grade 3, West Liberty Elementary School; 2nd – Ava Dent, grade 4, West Liberty Elementary School; 3rd – Kaylee Yensen, grade 3, West Liberty Elementary School.
– 6th-8th Grade Essay Competition: 1st – Adriana Moses, grade 8, Triadelphia Middle School; 2nd – Abigail McGowan, grade 7, Triadelphia Middle School; 3rd – Faith Cooper, grade 7, Triadelphia Middle School.
– 9th-12th Grade Essay Competition: 1st – Piper Baldwin, grade 10, Greenbrier East High School; 2nd – Addie Payton, grade 11, Wheeling Central Catholic High School; 3rd – Erin Maxwell, grade 11, Wheeling Central Catholic High School.
– K-5th Grade 5-Minute Film Competition: 1st – Sidney George, Prithri Prasain and Amelia Morris, grade 5, West Liberty Elementary School.
– 9th-12th Grade 5-Minute Film Competition: 1st – Wheeling Central Catholic High School Multimedia Department; 2nd – Wheeling Park High School Multimedia Department.
Other MLK Day Events Scheduled Around Region
Other groups have scheduled events celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. Day throughout the Ohio Valley. Bishop Darrell Cummings said special services will be held at both his churches – Bethlehem Apostolic Temple in Wheeling and Shiloh Apostolic Faith Assembly in Weirton. The Wheeling service will begin at 11 a.m. Sunday, with the Weirton service beginning at 1 p.m. Sunday. Elder John Oliver from Youngstown, Ohio, will be the speaker at both services.
On Monday, Wheeling University will hold events celebrating the holiday. Hanshi Jason P. Davis of Fairmont will offer insights into the history of African Americans in martial arts during a presentation at noon Monday inside Wheeling University’s Troy Theater. Davis is a 10th-degree black belt and currently serves as the West Virginia state district director for the Amateur Athletic Union for karate, judo, and taekwondo.
Other activities at Wheeling University on Monday include Dr. King trivia at 10 a.m., a student panel, “MLK and Our Campus,” at 2:30 p.m., and a viewing of the movie “Selma” sponsored by Black Student Union at 6 p.m.