Student oratorical contest winner announced

Congratulations to the winner and runners-up of the 2011 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Oratorical Contest, sponsored by Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Thornton. The 11 contest finalists were participants in MIFA’s COOL program, a college readiness and life/academic preparedness program.

First place: Kiyah Anderson, Central High School

Second place: Nekiaya Elam, Central High School

Third place: Chrysta Smith, Memphis Academy of Health Science

 

This year’s speech topic was “How Would I Increase the High School Graduation Rate?” Anderson will deliver the keynote address at MIFA's 12th annual Day of Reflection and Service on April 2.


The contest judges were Leslie Harris, Bellevue Middle School; Janas Jackson, FedEx; Dr. Andrea Mayfield, Tennessee Department of Education; Crystal Shelton, St. Augustine Charter School; and Dorian Spears, City of Memphis.

  • Memphis was declared hunger capital of the U.S. in 2011

  • MIFA serves 55,000 individuals each year

  • 74% of children in MIFA's neighborhood live in poverty

  • 86% of every dollar donated goes directly to MIFA's programs

  • In the area MIFA serves, almost 30% of those over the age of 65 live alone

  • MIFA was founded in 1968

  • Memphis' unemployment rate has been close to 10% since 2009

  • MIFA's Ombudsman program's 2 staff and 60 volunteers serve over 7,000 residents of long term care facilities

  • Only 4.5% of residents in the 38126 ZIP code have college degrees

  • Emergency Services provided assistance for 25,000 people last year

  • In 2010 and 2011, 100% of COOL seniors graduated from high school

  • MIFA Meals on Wheels serves 1,800 seniors every weekday

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