PCHS Bulletin- Amelia Capellan
Published Date – November 17, 2025
The Palmetto Youth Center hosts an annual event in celebration of Martin Luther King Jr., which displays the creativity of middle school and high school students across Manatee County.
This year’s event will highlight students' talents in the following areas: Visual Arts, Oratory, and Music. Some PCHS classes will be participating in the competition for the categories.
For example, the speech elective class taught by PCHS teacher Courtney Lancaster will be participating in the competition’s Oratory Contest. The students have received an assignment following the contest theme: “Mission Possible: Our Youth Dreaming Big, Acting Bold; Part of the Solution.”
Courtney Lancaster, English teacher and Bulletin Staff Advisor at PCHS, describes the assignment and states that the assignment reflects the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. And includes criteria like that of the contest, but students are not required to enter.
“The purpose is to reflect on the legacy of MLK and write a passionate speech that encourages today's generation to take action about an issue they are passionate about. This is part of a bigger purpose in class to become more confident as public speakers and practice writing engaging speeches,” Lancaster states.
Lancaster is using the project as an assignment in class due before Thanksgiving Break, hoping many will choose to take the opportunity to enter the contest.
Each category has its own set of guidelines for what can be entered in the competition. The similarities included in each are that no collaboration or group work is permitted; the entries must be submitted by December 1.
According to the contests official flyer, the Visual and Oratory Contest guideline includes the following:
Create any traditional two-dimensional artistic media including paintings, photography, watercolor, computer graphics, or other artwork that supports the contest theme: "Mission Possible: Our Youth Dreaming Big, Acting Bold; Part of the solution.”
One entry per student is permitted. No collaboration or group work is permitted.
Entries must be submitted by December 1, 2025, 5:00 pm.
The winners of the Visual Contest will be announced January 8, 2026, and winners will have their art displayed at the Martin Luther King Jr. Banquet on January 16, 2026.
Oratory Contest finalists will be notified January 1, 2026. Contest finals and award ceremonies will be held January 8, 2026.
For the Music Contest, the candidate can present talent through vocal or instrumental music. The guideline includes the following:
Students must submit their entries by December 1, 2025, 5:00.
Musical contest finalists will be notified by January 1, 2026.
Contest finals and Awards Ceremony will be held Friday, January 9, 2026.
First place winners will receive $150, second place winners will receive $100, and third place winners will receive $75. Winning entries from middle and high school categories will be presented at the Martin Luther King Jr. Banquet on January 16, 2026.
This contest is a great opportunity for students to showcase their talents and passions while reflecting their understanding of the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.