28th Annual Belford V. Lawson Oratorical Competition
Sat, Jan 17
|NJIT Agile Strategy Lab
Experience the power of youth voices, where 7 exceptional young men will deliver inspiring speeches over the prompt, “Dr. King’s perspectives on the world today,” competing for over $5,000 in awards and the prestigious Belford V. Lawson Oratorical Cup.
Time & Location
Jan 17, 2026, 11:00 AM
NJIT Agile Strategy Lab, 355 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. Newark, NJ 07102
About the Event
Celebrate the Power of Youth Voice.Join us for the 28th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Oratorical Competition, a signature event honoring Dr. King’s legacy through the brilliance and conviction of seven remarkable young men from Essex County.
Guests will enjoy a full buffet brunch as our finalists deliver original speeches on this year’s prompt: “Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Perspective on the World Today…”
These students will compete for over $5,000 in cash awards and prizes and the prestigious Belford V. Lawson Oratorical Cup — one of the most coveted distinctions bestowed by the Alpha Alpha Lambda Scholarship and Education Foundation.
This year’s finalists:
Karim Ahmad – North Star Downtown Middle School (Newark)
Jeremiah Albizu – Orange Preparatory Academy of Inquiry and Innovation (Orange)
Tickets
General Admission
$40.00
+$1.00 ticket service fee
Sale ended