Foley’s 2026 MLK Jr. Oratory Competition Attracts Significant Media Coverage
Foley & Lardner LLP’s annual 2026 Martin Luther King Jr. Oratory Competition attracted notable media attention this year as fourth- and fifth-grade students in Dallas, Houston, and Chicago echoed Dr. King’s powerful message of hope.
Foley’s annual MLK Jr. Oratory Competition invites students to present original three- to five-minute speeches on a topic central to the civil rights leader’s legacy. This year, students answered the question: “As a student of Dr. King’s life, what message of hope do you think he would have for the world today?“
Foley’s annual MLK Jr. Oratory Competition is held each year 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 2026 competition and view the winning speeches, please visit Foley’s MLK Jr. Oratory Competition 2026.
Notable media coverage of the 2026 oratorial competition is listed below.
Dallas:
- Meet this year’s Dallas ISD MLK Oratory winner, interview with first-place winner Blen Teklu and Foley’s Dallas managing partner Michael Newman – WFAA / ABC Dallas
- Dallas ISD students deliver powerful messages in MLK oratory competition, on-site interview with partner James Carlos McFall – CBS News Texas
- Dallas ISD honors Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with 34th annual MLK Jr. Oratory Competition, on-site interview with Blen Teklu and partner James Carlos McFall and also features 2008 first-place winner Dalton Sherman’s speech – FOX4
- Dallas ISD students honor MLK with powerful oratory performances – CBS News Texas
- Fourth grader wins 2026 Dallas MLK Competition, Blen Teklu speech – NBC5
- ‘Keep dreaming, keep working, keep loving:’ Dallas fourth grader wins MLK speech contest – Dallas Morning News
- Start your MLK Jr. Day off right. – D Magazine
- Preston Hollow Student Wins Dallas ISD MLK Jr. Oratory Competition – Dallas Express
- MLK Oratory finalists shine with their sponsors’ support – Dallas ISD News Hub
- Blen T. wins the 2026 MLK Jr. Oratory competition – Dallas ISD News Hub
Houston:
- Houston fifth grader wins MLK Jr. oratory competition at 30th anniversary celebration, first-place winner Otis Marks III speech – KHOU/CBS Ch.11
- Young voices, lasting legacy: Houston students honor Dr. King in 30th Annual Oratory Competition, interview with second-place winner Stormii Olezene and Foley’s Houston managing partner Scott Ellis – Houston Life
- Students honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy at 30th annual oratory competition – KHOU/CBS Ch.11
- His grandmother was beaten at a civil rights protest. This student honored her in his MLK Day speech. – Houston Chronicle
Chicago:
- Chicago law firm holds MLK Jr. Oratory Competition for student, interview with first-place winner Alanna Atwood and Foley’s Chicago managing partner Frank Pasquesi – CBS Chicago
- Fifth-grader from South Side elementary school shares her message of hope on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Alanna Atwood speech – WGN-TV
- Students shine at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. oratory competition, onsite interview with Alanna Atwood and Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer – NBC5 Chicago
- Chicago elementary students honor MLK, share his lessons in oratory competition – Chicago Sun Times
- Chicago elementary students honor MLK, share his lessons in oratory competition – WBEZ Chicago
National:
- Yahoo! News – Fifth-grader from South Side elementary school shares her message of hope on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day
- Yahoo! News – His grandmother was beaten at a civil rights protest. This student honored her in his MLK Day speech.
- Yahoo! Finance – Foley’s MLK Jr. Oratory Competitions Spotlight Inspiring Students Delivering Powerful Messages of Hope