Foley’s 2024 MLK Jr. Oratory Competition Generates Significant Media Coverage

Foley’s Annual MLK Jr. Oratory Competition generated significant media coverage.

The 2024 competitions invited fourth- and fifth-grade students to present original three- to five-minute speeches addressing the topic: “How would Dr. King reflect on the 60 years since his ‘I Have a Dream’ speech?”

At the final rounds of the competition held in Chicago, Dallas, and Houston on Friday, January 12, the students showcased their months of hard work and preparation to deliver their prepared remarks. The students were evaluated on delivery, stage presence and decorum, content interpretation, and memorization.

“Today has been a wonderful reminder to me that no matter who we are, it is up to each of us to do more each day,” Foley chairman and CEO Daljit Doogal told The Dallas Morning News following the end of the Dallas competition at Southern Methodist University. “Understand, respect, and support each other with compassion and humility.”

Foley’s Annual MLK Jr. Oratory Competition is held each year in conjunction with Martin Luther King Jr. Day to remember and pay tribute to the late civil rights leader’s legacy. Foley established the event to inspire students to learn more about Dr. King and help cultivate elementary school students’ writing and speaking skills.

To read more about the 2024 competition and view the winning speeches, click here. To see Houston competition winner Montoia Murray interviewed and perform part of her speech on the Sherri Show, click here.

Additional media coverage of the 2024 competition is available at the following links:

Chicago:

• Chicago 4th grader wins MLK-inspired speech competition – FOX Good Day Chicago
• Students Honor Dr. King’s Legacy – NBC 5 Saturday Morning
• Students win MLK oratory awards – Chicago Daily Law Bulletin

Dallas:

• 32^nd Annual MLK Jr. Oratory Competition – FOX4
• 32nd Annual MLK Jr. Oratory Competition (full program) – FOX 4 KDFW
• 32^nd Annual MLK Jr. Oratory Competition crowns winner at SMU – FOX4
• 4th grader wins MLK oratory competition. This is his winning speech – Dallas Morning News 
• Aiden B. wins the 2024 MLK Jr. Oratory Competition – Dallas ISD News Hub
• Eight Dallas ISD students advance in annual MLK Jr. Oratory Competition – Dallas ISD Newsletter
• Dallas 9-year-old wins MLK oratory competition – Interview segment with winner Aiden Body – FOX4 Good Day
• Dallas ISD students participate in MLK oratory competition – NBC 5 DFW
• Dallas ISD elementary students reflect on Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream, 60 years later – KERA News/Radio
• Dallas ISD students reflect on Dr. King’s legacy in MLK Jr. Oratory Competition – Dallas Examiner
• Dallas student calls for ‘freedom, prosperity and peace’ in MLK Jr. speech – Dallas Morning News
• Honoring a Hero – North Dallas Gazette
• Meet the 2024 winner of Dallas ISD’s MLK Jr. Oratory Competition – WFAA
• SMU’s Annual ‘Dream Week’ Celebrates the Life, Legacy, and Leadership of MLK – Houston Style Magazine
• Where to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day in Dallas-Fort Worth – Dallas Morning News
• Where to Celebrate MLK Day – KERA News

Houston:

• Blackshear Elementary student overcome with emotions after taking home 1^st place in 2024 MLK Oratory Competition – KHOU Evening News
• Blackshear Elementary student triumphs at 28th annual MLK Oratory Competition – Houston ISD Newsletter
• Fourth grader Montoia Murray takes home first place at the MLK Oratory Competition – Houston Public Media
• Fourth-grader wins annual MLK Oratory Competition – KTRK/ABC 13 Eyewitness News
• Foley’s Houston MLK Jr. Oratory Competition runner-up talks about experience – FOX26 Morning News
• Here’s what you can do on Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday in Houston – The Defender
• Houston Elementary Students to Reflect on Dr. King’s Legacy at Foley’s 28th Annual MLK Jr. Oratory Competition – Houston Style Magazine
• Houston ISD students reflect on meaning of MLK Jr. in oratory contest – Houston Chronicle
• Houston Life hosts congratulate Houston winner – KPRC Ch. 2
• Houston’s oldest Black Baptist church awarded $4 million grant to repair stained glass windows, Houston finalist Edlawit Getachew featured –  Houston Chronicle
• ‘I Have a Dream’ speech inspires Houston-area students 60 years later – Houston Landing
• KTRK ABC13
• Local students honor life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the annual MLK Jr. Oratory Competition – KPRC Ch. 2 Houston Life
• MLK Jr. Oratory Competition, 1st and 2nd place Houston winners on Houston Happens – CW Ch. 39

National:

• AP News
• AOL 
• BCK Online
• Because of Them We Can
• Black Enterprise
• BlackRadioNetwork.com
• Business Wire
• MSN, here and here
• Noah News
• The Joplin Globe
• Yahoo News, here and here