[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 34 (Monday, February 27, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E232]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   HONORING THE 27TH ANNUAL MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. YOUTH ORATORICAL 
                                CONTEST

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. GERALD E. CONNOLLY

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, February 27, 2017

  Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the 32nd Annual King 
Day Celebration and the cornerstone of the event, the 27th Annual 
Martin Luther King Jr. Youth Oratorical Contest, hosted by the Prince 
William Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated in 
partnership with the Cecil & Irene Hylton Foundation.
  Annually, the Hylton Foundation and the members of the Prince William 
Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta, Incorporated invite community 
members to gather on Martin Luther King Jr. Day to reflect upon the 
past year and receive a message of hope from the youth of today and 
leaders of tomorrow. Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. will forever 
be engrained in our history as the formative figure in the quest for 
justice through civil dialogue.
  In his Letter from a Birmingham Jail, Dr. King highlighted the need 
for civility in order to establish equality. For his courage, vision, 
and perseverance, we celebrate Dr. King, not just for the man he was, 
but for his vision of the American Dream and what America can be. While 
his life was cut short by a senseless act of violence, his legacy is 
one of tolerance. Responding through peaceful and principled 
communication to condemn the injustice of social and racial inequality, 
Dr. King worked tirelessly to establish a more united society. As we 
gather days prior to the 58th inauguration, under this year's theme of 
``what the world needs now'', participants in the Youth Oratorical 
Contest pay homage to the legacy of Dr. King through their delivery of 
extemporaneous remarks.
  The ability to communicate with passion and clarity will serve them 
well as they assume future leadership opportunities and establish the 
personal relationships necessary for community engagement. I 
congratulate the following contestants in the 27th Annual Martin Luther 
King, Jr. Youth Oratorical Contest:

     Middle School Contestants

       Chelsea Campbell--Porter Traditional School
       Jennine Faruque--Stonewall Middle School
       Abdullah Usufzai-- Ronald Reagan Middle School

     High School Contestants

       Gladys Gonzalez--Osbourn High School
       Norman Jones--Stonewall Jackson High School
       Hamayel Safi--Woodbridge High School

  Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in commending the 
Prince William Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. for 
showcasing the power of purposeful and meaningful communication 
reminiscent of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and in congratulating the 
talented youth of the 2017 MLK Youth Oratorical Contest.

                          ____________________