OUSD Students Shine in Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Oratorical Fest Showcase

The event was delayed for a time, but when the big day happened, hundreds of elementary, middle, and high school students shared their passion and the power of their voices at Skyline High School. The annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Oratorical Fest Showcase on Sunday, April 19, was when all the winners of the districtwide competition showed off the talents that got them through multiple rounds of competition and into the winner’s circle. Students, families, and staff filled much of the Skyline theater to see the parade of spoken word performances.

Every year, the Oratorical Fest is when students of all ages, as individuals or in groups, perform a spoken word piece, a poem, a speech, or other form of prose, either borrowing someone else’s words such as one of the most popular, Dr. King’s I Have A Dream speech, or performing an original piece. These performances are something that students work on for months, and they are always proud to perform their pieces for a new audience. And every student, with their unique interpretation of the words they say, draws an enthusiastic ovation from the audience.

“As a former teacher and principal, I am lucky to have witnessed generations of students take part in the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Oratorical Fest, and it is one of my favorite events of the year,” said Superintendent Dr. Denise Saddler. “The brilliance of their original works, and the strength and conviction with which they deliver all their performances, show me that our students are being prepared well to lead our world into the future. I applaud all of our students who took part in the Oratorical, and thank our teachers, staff, and families for giving them the support they needed to bring to life these remarkable renditions.”

Interested students should plan to take part in next year’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Oratorical Fest. Students can check in with their teachers and front office team in the fall to get the details.