National Bar Association Has Launched Essay

And Oral Competition For High School Seniors

New York City — The National Bar Association (NBA) has launched its ninth annual essay and oral competition for high school seniors that awards more than $25,000 in prizes. MetLife is a regional sponsor of the event for the sixth consecutive year. Students from New York, Connecticut, and Vermont are invited to submit an essay for the 2008 Martin Luther King, Jr, Drum Major for Justice Advocacy Competition. The topic for this year’s competition is the disparity in juvenile criminal charges,

In no more than 600 words students should address the following questions: If Dr Martin Luther King, Jr, were alive today, what reaction, if any, do you think he would have to the manner in which the African American and white juveniles have been treated in recent cases such as the one involving the students in Jena, La.? What might Dr King suggest as remedies to address any disparate treatment? The purpose of the competition is to introduce high school seniors of color to oral and written advocacy and provide scholarships for higher education. To participate, eligible students must have applied to a college or university for the 2008-09 school year.

“We are pleased that this year’s competition will once again give students the opportunity to compete for a scholarship to help further their education, while allowing them to put forth thought-provoking solutions to recent troubling events in the African American community,” said Monica Dula, regional director of the National Bar Association Region II.

Students must submit their essays by April 1. If there are more than two student competitors in each local area, there will be a local competition. These competitions will be held April 19–30. If they are among the finalists in the local competition, they will advance to the NBA Region II oral competition, which will be held in New York City on May 17.

The winner of the oral contest will represent the region at the national competition in Houston, Texas, on July 31.

The Region II winner will receive a $1,000 scholarship and both the student and an adult chaperone will receive airfare and hotel accommodations for the national competition. The national competition grand-prize winner will receive a $10,000 scholarship. Overall, more than $25,000 in prizes will be awarded. Visit the NBA Region II website at www.geocities.com/nbaregion2 for the complete essay question, the competition rules, and additional information about the competition.

All essays must be e-mailed by April 1 and sent to Tanya McDuffie, NBA Region 2 coordinator for Martin Luther King Drum Major for Justice Advocacy Competition, at mlkregion2@yahoo.

The National Bar Association was formed in 1925 by 12 African American pioneers with a mutual interest in and dedication to justice and the civil rights of all. NBA created this competition in 1999.