Houston Fifth Grader Otis Marks III Wins MLK Jr. Oratory Competition

Annual MLK Jr. Oratory Competition

• 🏆 The 30th annual MLK Jr. Oratory Competition in Houston showcased the talent of HISD students.
• 💡 Students were asked to answer the question: "What message of hope do you think Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. would have for the world today?"

Winning Speech and Dedication

• 🥇 Otis Marks III, a fifth grader from Windsor Village Elementary, was named the first-place winner.
• 💖 Otis dedicated his winning speech to his grandmother, who he stated stood up for equality.

Competition Themes and Messages

• 🕊️ Speeches emphasized choosing love over hate, hospitality over rejection, and compassion over cruelty.
• 🌟 Key messages included the idea that "Hate cannot drive out hate. Only love can do that," and that choosing kindness makes the world brighter.
• ⚖️ Another powerful theme was that "America must be better than fear, better than suspicion, better than the quick judgment that costs lives."

KHOU 11 Partnership and Scholarship Fund

• 🤝 KHOU 11 partnered with the Greater Houston Frontiers Club to support the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Fund.
• 💰 The goal of this partnership is to provide scholarships to over 50 outstanding seniors.
• 📺 A special 1-hour program will air on KHOU 11 on Monday at 9:00 a.m., honoring community leaders and highlighting the work of the Greater Houston Frontiers Club.