Foley & Lardner LLP’s 2025 Martin Luther King Jr. Oratory Competition garnered significant media attention this year as the student’s message of leadership, unity, and civic responsibility especially resonated as the day celebrating Dr. King’s legacy coincided with the U.S. Presidential Inauguration.
The annual competition, held in Chicago, Dallas, and Houston, invites fourth- and fifth-grade students to present original three- to five-minute speeches addressing a topic tied to the civil rights leader’s legacy. This year’s topic was: “What would Dr. King tell us about our responsibility as citizens and leaders in America today?”
Following his 29th year serving as chair and emcee of the Houston competition, Foley partner Claude Treece recounted his passion for the event and recalled watching Dr. King speak on television during the height of the civil rights movement in The Texas Lawyer article, “Foley Partner Wrapping Up Long Legal Career, 29 Years of Chairing MLK Jr. Oratory Competition in Houston.”
“For me, this was really less about a passion for speech contests, or debates,” Treece said. “It was really more of a passion about King and the civil rights movement.”
Additional media coverage of the 2025 competition is available below.
Chicago:
- Local 4th grader wins 6th annual MLK Jr. Oratory Competition, interview with winner Harmony Daniels and Foley’s Chicago managing partner Frank Pasquesi – FOX 32 Good Day Chicago
- CPS 4th-grade student shares part of speech that won Foley’s Annual MLK Jr. Oratory Competition, interview with winner Harmony Daniels and Foley’s Chicago managing partner Frank Pasquesi – WGN-TV
- Students compete in oratory competition ahead of MLK Day, on site-interviews with top three finalists and Foley’s Chicago managing partner Frank Pasquesi – NBC 5
- Photos: MLK events in Chicago – Chicago Tribune
- ABC 7
- WBBM-AM Radio
Dallas:
- FOX4 KDFW, on-site interview with winner Deon Harris and Foley’s Dallas managing partner Michael Newman
- NBC 5 DFW, on-site interview with winner Deon Harris and Foley’s Dallas managing partner Michael Newman
- ‘America is experiencing heart failure,’ Dallas fourth grader declares in MLK Jr. speech – Dallas Morning News
- Video: Dallas ISD students compete in annual MLK Oratory Competition – Dallas Morning News
- Dallas ISD’s 33rd Annual MLK Jr. Oratory Competition goes to J.P. Starks Student – Lakewood/East Dallas – Dallas Advocate
- Dallas 4th grader wins MLK Jr. Oratory Competition | FOX 4 Dallas-Fort Worth – FOX4 Good Day
- WFAA Daybreak, interview with winner Deon Harris and Foley’s Dallas managing partner Michael Newman
- Martin Luther King Jr. Oratory Contest | Taking a look back at past winners – WFAA Dallas
- J.P. Starks student wins MLK Jr. Oratory Competition – Dallas ISD News Hub
- North Texas students honor Dr. Martin Luther King’s legacy in 33rd annual oratory competition – CBS News Texas
Houston:
- Foley MLK Jr. Day Oratory Competition Winner | H-Town Live with Montoia Murray – CW Ch. 39
- Interview with winner Montoia Murray and Foley partner Claude Treece
- Houston ISD fifth-grader repeats as winner in annual MLK Jr. oratory competition – Houston Public Media
- What Houston’s Talking About – CityCast/Hey Houston daily newsletter
- Photo Essay: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy inspires Houston’s next generation – Houston Landing
- Clip of Montoia’s winning speech performance – HISD News Now
- KRIV/Fox Ch. 26
- Interview with Montoia Murray and Foley partner Claude Treece, Montoia Murray’s performance
- Second-place winner interview and performance
- Live stream and feature of the competition
- HISD student wins MLK Oratory competition for second year – Houston Chronicle
- MLK Oratory competition crowns repeat winner at 29th annual event – KHOU/CBS Ch. 11
Additional Regional Coverage:
National: