Students carry on the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through We Energies speech contest

“Though we are just learners today, we will be leaders tomorrow.” Powerful words from Abigail Cashman, one of the winners of We Energies’ Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Speech Contest.

Abigail and five other students wowed the crowd at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts on Sunday. Today the first, second and third place winners were honored at halftime at the Milwaukee Bucks game.

We Energies has been hosting the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  Speech Contest for 36 years. We’re proud to encourage students across Milwaukee to carry on Dr. King’s legacy.

This year, students from kindergarten to 12^th grade were asked to write a speech using the theme “Your life has significance.” The theme is inspired by a speech Dr. King delivered in Philadelphia in 1967. Dr. King told junior high school students, “Don’t allow anybody to make you feel that you’re nobody. Always feel that you count. Always feel that you have worth, and always feel that your life has ultimate significance.”

Abigail captured the theme perfectly: “No matter what, I want each of you to believe in yourself. Feel like you are made for something bigger than you can even dream.”