The Vermont Bar
Association, in partnership with its Diversity Section and Young Lawyers
Division, sponsored its third annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Poster-Essay
Contest to celebrate the life and message of the late Dr. Martin Luther King,
Jr. Middle school students were asked to create a poster and write a
short essay interpreting what Dr. King’s “True peace is not merely the absence
of tension; it’s the presence of justice” quote means to them. One winner
and two runners-up were selected by the committee from the creative and
thoughtful entries from all over the state.
VBA President Beth Novotny
welcomed the winners and guests in the governor’s ceremonial office on January
22, 2020. She thanked the VBA and its Diversity
Section and Young Lawyers Division for their efforts and praised the governor
for his long-standing commitment to education. President Novotny remarked that
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s message should be celebrated and discussed every
day and that the contest is a wonderful way to keep the discussion alive. Before
introducing the governor, she welcomed the VBA YLD members in attendance (Pam
Eaton and Molly Gray) and the VBA Diversity section members in attendance
(Jessica Brown and Judge Nancy Waples) and thanked the VBA, represented by
Executive Director, Teri Corsones and Education and Communication Director,
Jennifer Emens-Butler and all the legislators, family and friends in
attendance.
Governor Phil Scott then
spoke of the importance of Dr. King’s message, and stressed how we must look to
today’s youth to be our future leaders. He proudly asserted that despite today’s
divisive climate, young people show us daily how to work together to find solutions,
how to see good in everyone and how to live by the golden rule. He proceeded to
visit with each of the winners to discuss their work and present the awards to
the winning students.
Nicolas Milazzo and
Zachary Davis, 8th graders from Poultney High School, were presented
with the first-place plaque and traveling trophy for their school. Elizabeth
Cunningham, a 7th grader from Edmunds Middle School in Burlington, received
the first runner-up plaque and the team of Kaitlyn DeBonis and Courtney Ezzo, 8th
graders also from Poultney High School, received second runner-up plaques. Since
Poultney High School took first and third place, the Governor asked English and
Language Arts teacher Dawn Sarli the secret of their success. Dawn remarked that
the kids were inspired by the endless possibilities evoked by the selected quote
and also by their current unit reading and discussing Roll of Thunder, Hear
My Cry, by Mildred Taylor.
The students and their
teachers and families were photographed with their winning submissions and
Governor Scott. After the ceremony, the group attended a statehouse tour
and then were invited to the Vermont Supreme Court where they were greeted by
Chief Justice Paul Reiber. Justice Reiber visited with and congratulated the
students and spoke to the importance of Dr. King’s legacy. Justices Harold Eaton,
Karen Carroll and William Cohen were also in attendance to meet with the students
and families and Justice Eaton treated the students to a tour of the courtroom (complete
with a joke about the purpose of the long ceiling chain) and his personal chambers!
The students’ posters
and essays will be on display at the Supreme Court building throughout the
month of January. They will also be featured in the Vermont Bar Journal.
Please scroll down to see the winning submissions and all the photos from the
ceremonies.
The VBA would like to
congratulate all of the participants who submitted such excellent
entries. Special thanks to Governor Scott, the Sergeant-at-Arms and Chief
Justice Reiber, Justice Eaton, Justice Carroll and Justice Cohen, as well as to
all of their staff members for making the event so memorable for the winning
students, their teachers and families.
Parents and teachers
should watch for notices in October for next year's contest which is destined
to be another success!
