In observance of Black History Month this year, five ninth grade students at Julius E. Sprauve School accepted the invitation of the St. Thomas-St. John Federation of Teachers to enter a competition that consisted of listing five persons they respect and admire, then selecting one of those five and stating in no fewer than 25 words why they admire and respect that person.
In an effort to encourage more participation in the future, the AFT awarded cash prizes to all five entrants. Ticoya Adams won first place and received $25; Kishana Liburd placed second and won $20, Channel Hector placed third and won $10, Alexander Ferdinand placed fourth and won $5, and Marilyn Callwood placed fifth and also won $5.
Following are the students' choices of five people they respect and admire and a synopsis of the mini-essay that each one submitted.
Ticoya listed her mother, Verona Adams; her late grandmother, Louisa Rogers; her aunt, Lorna Rogers; her social studies teacher, Evans Williams; and the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
She wrote about grandmother, explaining that Rogers raised her children almost single handedly and helped in the raising of her grandchildren. Although the grandchildren did not always treat her right, she continued to love them and wish the best for them. "She has a very strong soul, and even though she is dead, her soul lives in her family," Ticoya wrote.
Kishana listed Martin Luther King Jr., Harriet Tubman, Supreme Court Thurgood Marshal, Sojourner Truth and Madame C.J. Walker.
She wrote that Sojourner Truth "was not just a free black abolitionist but a courageous woman who fought for women's rights … She helped to show the world all the bad things that came out of slavery and all the good things about freedom."
Channel listed Gen. Colin Powell, C.J. Walker, Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth and George Washington Carver. She wrote about Walker's rise from poverty to become America's first self-made female millionaire.
Alexander listed Martin Luther King, Jr., Jessie Owens, Rosa Parks, Jessie Jackson and Malcolm X.
Marilyn listed Martin Luther King Jr., Evans Williams, Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth and Julius Ebenezer Sprauve, Sr.
Alexander and Marilyn both wrote about Martin Luther King Jr., citing his willingness to stand up against wrongdoing and describing him as a great role model.
Commenting on the AFT project, the teachers union local president, Glen Smith, said, "Our students deserve all the positive attention they can get in order to bolster their sometimes fragile egos and propel them to reach great heights in our brave new world."
