Four South students placed in the finals of the Martin Luther King Jr. Contest.

Brentleigh Greene, junior, won first place in the visual art category and Jessica Frazier, freshman, won third.

Yomna Farid, freshman, was awarded third place in the essay category.

Kali Ray, junior, was awarded third place in the multi-media category. Last year Ray won first place in written work and Best in Show. As a freshman, Ray won third place in written work.

Every year Olathe middle and high school students are given the opportunity to compete in the Martin Luther King Jr. visual and written art contest.

There is a different theme each year based on one of King’s statements. The 2017 theme was “A Purpose Greater Than Myself.”

Candy Birch, assistant principal, said it is apparent that “the people who place really incorporate the story and symbolism” of the theme and “think deeply.”

The students can compete with artwork, essays and other media presentations based on the theme.

This year was the 17th year the contest has taken place. Not only are the projects out for display in the downtown Olathe Public Library, but cash prizes are also awarded to winners.

Birch said, “The contest was pretty successful” because Olathe South had “more district finalists than any other school.”

Birch said she “can’t think of a better effort to embrace tolerance, respect, justice and empathy.”

The purpose of the MLK contest is to inspire students to share their art and to make the world a better place.