OPRF Senior Wins Martin Luther King Jr. Oratory Contest for Second Year

For the second consecutive year, Anthony Moaton will deliver the winning entry during the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Assembly Friday, Jan. 18.

The 34th Annual Oration Contest winner's speech will be shared with students during the 8:45 and 9:40 a.m. assemblies at Oak Park and River Forest High School, 201 N. Scoville Ave.

Moaton's entry in the contest was centered around the contest's theme, "Moving Forward," and details, sometimes humorously, the lessons he's learned about how to move forward in life.

Also for the second straight year, the high school and The Oak Park Regional Housing Center are partnering to sponsor the contest. The center is sponsoring the annual prizes of $200 for the first place winner and $100 for second place.

The second place winning entry, by OPRF junior Helen Thomason, recounts some of the struggles King faced and relates them to struggles faced by young people in the Chicago area.

In addition, senior Amber Floyd has won prom tickets for her winning entry in the video contest, which also will be shown at Friday’s assembly.

This year’s assembly also will feature the premiere of a music video by senior Hannah Rand. Creation of the video was prompted by positive reactions to an original song Hannah sang at last year’s assembly, entitled, Not That Different.

The video was created by OPRF students, with the guidance of film and television teacher John Condne, using funds raised through Kickstarter and teacher contributions.

The assembly also will feature performances by A Cappella Choir and Spoken Word.

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