2005 Student Essay Contest winners

First Prize winner: Brisa P. Halviatti Second Prize winner: Ryan Walsh Third Prize winner: Aaron Williams

2005 Student Essay Contest winners. Enlarged view, 87K

2005 Individual and Group Humanitarian Award winners

INDIVIDUAL AWARD WINNER The 2005 King County Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Humanitarian Award for an individual King County employee goes to: Alyce Green

2005 Individual Humanitarian Award winner Alyce Green

Alyce manages King County's Helping Hands Program that assists individuals with court-ordered community service to navigate the process of successfully completing their required hours with King County non-profit agencies.

Alyce's passions are the homeless, the hungry and embracing cultural diversity.

The materials included a story related by Ms. Green about how she decided to devote her life to this work. She was a 10 year old on vacation in Georgia in 1958 visiting her aunt. She went to help an elderly Black man who while trying to use a drinking fountain was pushed down by a young white man. Her father stood with her while the man drank from the fountain and later he explained what the "whites only" label meant.

The nomination materials detailed Ms. Green's work with community organizations including Boomtown Cafe, the Latino Voting Project, and Team Survivors Northwest as well as her personal actions to help others, including working to inform people about "Invisible White Privilege." She has committed her life to the struggle against economic and racial injustice.

» Read Alyce Green's acceptance statement (28K Word .doc)

GROUP AWARD WINNER The 2005 King County Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian Award for a group of King County employees goes to: The Residential and Commercial Divisions King County Assessor's Office Members of the group include:

2005 Group Humanitarian Award winners. Enlarged view, 170K

Helen Berglund, Apollo Buban, Claire Christian, Remy Edwards, Sheila Frawley, Lucinda Gorrow, Mary Guballa, Edith Hargin, Jeff Holding, Sheila Hulin, Betty Johnson, Craig Johnson, Scott Kendall, Kay Koitzsch, Judy Krawiec, Darrel Larsen, Joel Ledbetter, Carolyn Liepelt, Meredith Medved, Lorie Merlino, Judith Metcalf, Linda Morgan, Wendy Morse, Lana Nugent, Pat Paguaga, Maria de la Pena, Ruth Peterson, Jurgen Ramil, Al Rose, Judy Sandy, Kathrynn Scheele, Rick Sowers, Mindy Tiangson, Joan Toyer, Bruce Wagner, and Traci Williams.

The Residential and Commercial Divisions' volunteer activities:

• Cookie sales benefit the Salvation Army Homeless Shelter. The Department made a year long effort of raising money by having weekly "cookie" sales, every Thursday morning. Over $500 was raised. The proceeds went to a Salvation Army Homeless shelter that houses 20 women. The Department purchased twenty pairs of pajamas, slipper sox, stockings, gloves, sweatshirts and filled twenty Christmas Stockings with personal items and treats.
• Visits with residents at Renton Villa Assisted Living Facility. It started out years ago as a project to provide Christmas presents to residents at Renton Villa who did not have family support. The participants in the project were then challenged by one member of the group to continue this as a year round volunteer project. The group now plans periodic visits with the residents and small activities and some time to chat with these elderly folks who enjoy the one on one attention. It has been very rewarding to over the years build a rapport with the residents and the group has very much enjoyed helping and getting to know these very interesting people.
• Northwest Harvest. Non-perishable food was collected and sent to the Northwest Harvest sponsored food banks. A great assortment of food contributions were brought in.
• Holiday baskets. An assortment of items were collected and assembled into three festive baskets in appreciation of members of the US Military serving their country.
• Adopted families. A collection of requested items was made and items delivered to Salvation Army Adopt-a-Family program participants.
• Iraqi schoolchildren. A collection of items was made and sent to children in need.

For more information:

If you have questions about the 2005 MLK Celebration or if you need this information in large print, Braille, or audio cassette, please contact Bailey deIongh by phone at 206-296-7652, by TTY at 206-296-7596 or by e-mail at bailey.deiongh@kingcounty.gov.