CHARLOTTE – Three local students took honors in this year’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Art and Writing Contest sponsored by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.

Third-place writing winner Giulia Girboni, a second-grader at Cornelius Elementary School; second-place writing winner Elizabeth Russell, an eighth-grader at Bailey Middle School; and second-place art winner Zahria Patterson-Nwaorgu, a first-grader at Cornelius Elementary School were honored at a recognition ceremony Thursday, Jan. 12, at West Charlotte High School. The theme of this year’s contest was “Defending the Dream.”

“We can keep his dream alive by treating each other equally no matter if they are different than us,” wrote Giulia in her submission. “If we all work together we can keep his dream alive.”

“Many of Dr. King’s dreams for this country have come true,” wrote Elizabeth. “People of all races and religions have the same legal rights. However, socially, we sometimes … ‘judge the book by the cover.’”

First-place winners in art and writing were presented with scholarships from Food Lion, while second-place, third-place and honorable mention winners were given medallions adorned with the image of Dr. King. Each of the winners also were invited to participate in Charlotte’s Martin Luther King Jr. Parade on Saturday, Jan. 14. All winning submissions can be viewed online at www.cms.k12.nc.us/News/Pages/Defendingthe‘Dream’.aspx.