Dallas ISD MLK Oratory Winner Blen Teklu Delivers Inspiring Speech

Dallas ISD MLK Oratory Competition

• 🏆 The Dallas ISD MLK Oratory competition, now in its 30th year, inspires fourth and fifth graders to deliver original speeches.
• 🎯 This year's theme asked students: "As a student of Dr. King's life, what message of hope do you think he would have for the world today?"

Blen Teklu's Award-Winning Speech

• 💡 Fourth grader Blen Teklu, from Preston Hollow Elementary, won the competition with her powerful speech.
• 💖 Blen emphasized Dr. King's message of choosing love over hate, peace over violence, and hope over fear.
• 🌟 She highlighted Dr. King's belief that change is possible and that even in darkness, we can see the stars by looking for and being the good.
• 🕊️ Blen spoke about Dr. King's commitment to nonviolence, using words and peaceful actions instead of force.

Blen's Poem: "The Dream Lives On"

• ✍️ Blen shared a poem she wrote, reinforcing Dr. King's message that his dream lives on in every heart that dares to care.
• 🌱 The poem emphasizes that when people speak what's true, show love, and value peace, Dr. King's message is still heard.
• 🚀 Blen concluded by stating that with hope and love, the dream can be carried on, and the world can be better because of the actions of individuals.

Competition Significance and Future Aspirations

• 🤝 The competition is a celebration of amazing students and teachers in Dallas ISD and a way to honor Dr. King's legacy.
• 🌟 Participants hope to inspire younger children to keep dreaming, keep loving, and not give up.
• 🩺 Blen shared her future aspiration to become a pediatrician.
• 📺 The full competition speeches are available to stream on WFAA Plus.