Martin Luther King Jr. Oratory Competition

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Twelve HISD students took the stage at the 23rd Foley Gardere Martin Luther King Jr. Oratory Competition at 10 a.m. at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church of Christ in downtown Houston.

The 4th and 5th grade students answered the question, 'What would Dr. King say to the children of today's world?'

SEE MORE: Spirit of MLK lives in young speech competitors

This contest encourages the participants to focus on the leadership and legacy of Dr. King.

The contest was open to fourth and fifth grade students at 24 Houston Independent School District Schools. The students were encouraged to consider the ideals and principles of Martin Luther King, Jr. as they create their speeches. Each school held its own internal competition to select the 12 finalists.

Nyla Johnson was awarded first place, with Asia Jefferson receiving second place, and Chrisette Wigfall was third.