The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Commemoration Committee hosts the annual Image Award Banquet in January of each year to celebrate the memory and ongoing legacy of Dr. King.
The banquet was held Saturday night at the Kosciusko High School where Kosciusko Church of Christ pastor Les Ferguson was the 2018 Image Award Honoree. The 2005 Image Award winner Henry Daniel presented the award to Lee in place of 2017 winner Martin Roby who was absent due to illness.
Entertainment for the evening was provided by J. B. Robinson and Family while the greeting was conducted by Mary Sue Harmon. Pastor Martha Jones of Heaven is My Goal Ministries gave the invocation and prayed for the evening meal as well.
Andrea Myers presented the Lighthouse Awards for Community Service, Educational Leadership, Medical Care Service and Political Service while Cassandra Lagrone recognized guests and gave the closing announcements.
Willie Alice Kern gave the closing remarks for the evening while Dr. Marvin Myles Sr., the pastor of Christian Liberty M. B. Church gave the benediction.
Commemorative events held Monday
The community gathered together at KHS Monday morning to pray, sing and extoll the progress made by the Civil Rights movement lead by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Speakers noted, however, that work remains.
Featured speaker Kenneth Nelson Jr. urged the crowd the stand up for justice at every opportunity to keep the movement alive.
“Standing up for justice is not a one-day thing.... It is a thing you decide to do for the rest of your life,” he said. “Whatever is right, whatever is fair - that is what we need to be fighting for.”
KHS senior Kestyn Williams, who won the essay contest and scholarship, noted it is up to those alive today to move forward.
“I want to be the dreamer now,” she said. “I will dream and I will do everything in my power to make others listen.”
Poster and Essay Award winners
Pre-K - First place winner Addison Austin, Kosciusko Lower Elementary, Vtech Alphabet Apple; Second place winner Jerone Fuller, Long Greek Elementary, Fisher Price Think & Learn Alpha Slide Writer
Kindergarten & First Grade - First place winner Ne'Kyra Stinger, Kosciusko Lower Elementary, Fisher Price Smart Tablet; Second place winner Dewayne Davis, Kosciusko Lower Elementary - Vtech Write & Learn Creative Center
econd & Third Grade - First place winner Jesslyn Coats, Kosciusko Middle Elementary School, Eclipse MP3 & Video; Second place winner Tyronica Perteet Kosciusko Middle School, Razor Kick Scooter
Fourth & Fifth Grade - First-place winner Adam Reed Greer, Jr., Kosciusko Upper Elementary, BlackWeb Bluetooth CD; Second-place winner Kameren Greenwood, Greenlee Elementary School, RCA Voyager III Tablet
Sixth, Seventh & Eighth Essay - First place winner Marcus Ball, McAdams High School, Canzglo Wireless Speaker; Second-place winner Cameren Flemming, McAdams High School, Sony headphones
Ninth, Tenth & Eleventh Grade - First-place winner Alexis Rimmer, Kosciusko High School, 32 in Elements LED TV; Second place winner JaVonte Ragsdale, Kosciusko High School, Polaroid Digital Camera
Twelfth Grade winner Kestyn Williams, Kosciusko High School, $500 scholarship.
For more photos from these events, see the print edition of The Star-Herald.
