Bowie honors student work at 23rd annual Martin Luther King Jr. art contest
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BOWIE — Dozens of students and their families gathered at Bowie City Hall as the City of Bowie Diversity Committee presented the 23rd annual Martin Luther King Jr. Art Contest, honoring visual and performing arts that interpret Dr. King’s legacy.
Alyssa Jarrett, Arts and Culture program specialist and the committee’s staff liaison, opened the program by thanking teachers, principals and families for sustaining the contest. "We are so happy to have you here," Jarrett said, introducing performances and the awards schedule.
Mayor Timothy Adams called the students Bowie’s future and praised their work as evidence that "the dream is still alive," urging the city to support young people’s creative development. Councilmember Wanda Rogers, council liaison to the Diversity Committee, said the contest reflects the city's values and called art a way to explore identity and imagine a fairer community.
The program included a musical performance by FAME (Foundation for the Advancement of Music and Education) and a recorded message from contest illustrator Brianna Pippins, who described this year’s coloring-page artwork, "Empower the Dream," as a portrait of Dr. King surrounded by symbols for peace, justice, love and equality.
Student finalists from kindergarten through 12th grade were invited to describe their pieces onstage. Autumn Stokely, last year’s winner and a fifth grader at Heather Hills Elementary School, told the audience she understands ‘‘empower’’ to mean making someone stronger and more confident and urged peers to speak up against unfair laws or rules.
Organizers read finalists’ names by category and presented three-place prizes in each band. Committee members said cash awards range from $25 to $150 depending on category. In the K–2 band, Catherine Acero (Heather Hills Elementary) won first place; Lillian Cheim Pando was named second, and two students tied for third. For grades 3–5, the grand winner was announced as Jidil b Okonkwo. Middle‑school and high‑school winners included Emma Mummert (first place, 6–8) and Steven Veil (first place, high school).
Several finalists could not attend in person and had videos played or remarks read on their behalf; staff noted a few technical difficulties with playback but said videos would be posted online. Organizers reminded winners that their checks and certificates were in envelope packets.
The event concluded with group photos of winners with Mayor Adams and Councilmember Rogers and light refreshments in the lobby. A recording of the program is available on the City of Bowie’s YouTube channel.
Alyssa Jarrett, Arts and Culture program specialist and the committee’s staff liaison, opened the program by thanking teachers, principals and families for sustaining the contest. "We are so happy to have you here," Jarrett said, introducing performances and the awards schedule.
Mayor Timothy Adams called the students Bowie’s future and praised their work as evidence that "the dream is still alive," urging the city to support young people’s creative development. Councilmember Wanda Rogers, council liaison to the Diversity Committee, said the contest reflects the city's values and called art a way to explore identity and imagine a fairer community.
The program included a musical performance by FAME (Foundation for the Advancement of Music and Education) and a recorded message from contest illustrator Brianna Pippins, who described this year’s coloring-page artwork, "Empower the Dream," as a portrait of Dr. King surrounded by symbols for peace, justice, love and equality.
Student finalists from kindergarten through 12th grade were invited to describe their pieces onstage. Autumn Stokely, last year’s winner and a fifth grader at Heather Hills Elementary School, told the audience she understands ‘‘empower’’ to mean making someone stronger and more confident and urged peers to speak up against unfair laws or rules.
Organizers read finalists’ names by category and presented three-place prizes in each band. Committee members said cash awards range from $25 to $150 depending on category. In the K–2 band, Catherine Acero (Heather Hills Elementary) won first place; Lillian Cheim Pando was named second, and two students tied for third. For grades 3–5, the grand winner was announced as Jidil b Okonkwo. Middle‑school and high‑school winners included Emma Mummert (first place, 6–8) and Steven Veil (first place, high school).
Several finalists could not attend in person and had videos played or remarks read on their behalf; staff noted a few technical difficulties with playback but said videos would be posted online. Organizers reminded winners that their checks and certificates were in envelope packets.
The event concluded with group photos of winners with Mayor Adams and Councilmember Rogers and light refreshments in the lobby. A recording of the program is available on the City of Bowie’s YouTube channel.
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