Students in the Long Beach Public Schools earned recognition for their entries in a Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Poster and Essay Contest sponsored by the City of Long Beach. Students learned about Dr. King’s contributions and impact, then conveyed their own messages about his legacy through art and writing.

The contest was open to all students from elementary through high school and asked them to incorporate the theme of “Unity, Service and Collaboration During the Pandemic” into their work.

Poster winners are Long Beach Middle School student Sydney Brandt, Lindell School students Kaitlyn Dambrose and Maximo Vitolo and West School students Erica Addey and Blaise DeNicola. Their pieces are titled “Emancipation,” “Teamwork,” “We Will Make It Through,” “Let Freedom Ring” and “Love Beats Hate,” respectively.

The district’s essay contest winners are Lily Eustate of Long Beach High School and Bianca Leible from West, along with a Long Beach Catholic Regional School student.