Students earn MLK essay awards

Six students were named Thursday as winners of the Martin Luther King Jr. Essay Contest by the Utah State Office of Education.

The theme of this year's contest was "Dr. Martin Luther King's Vision and Its Impact on This Election Year." The winners are:

• Claire Khodadad, Olympus Junior High, seventh-grade.

• Joei Robertson, Bryant Intermediate School, eighth-grade.

• Crystal Hernandez, East High School, ninth-grade. She is also the overall junior high/middle school winner

• Beth Icard, Carbon High School, 10th-grade.

• Katija Johnston, Alpine Academy, 11th-grade. She is also the overall high school winner.

• Cindie Boyer, Dixie High School, 12th-grade.

The contest was open to all seventh- through 12th- grade students in the state. There were more than 300 entries to this year's contest. The winner from each grade received $50 at a luncheon held in their honor. The overall junior high/middle school winner and high school winner received an additional $75 each. The winners were chosen by a committee from the state education office.