King Day essay winners crowned

As a part of Culver City’s King Day Celebration, more than 90 students from the Culver City Unified School District participated in the “Have We Reached the Dream?” essay competition.

A committee of teachers narrowed the competition to 19 semi-finalists, who delivered their essays in front of a capacity crowd of proud parents and supporters at the Culver City Veterans Memorial Auditorium. Based on the clarity of the message, speaking voice and word annunciation, a jury rated the three top essayists: Malik Johnson of Culver City Middle School, Peri Reynaldo of El Rincon Elementary School and Barbara Gamboa of Culver Park High School will deliver their winning essays as a part of Culver City’s seventh annual Martin Luther King Day Celebration on Jan. 15.

Culver City’s King Day Celebration will also include a reading of the award-winning play “The Dreamers,” a panel discussion/question and answer session, an interactive poetry reading, musical performances and an art exhibit from the Mayme A. Clayton Library and Museum. There will also be a marketplace and activities for children.