Los Angeles Adventist Academy held its second annual black poetry oratorical contest on Feb. 15 during Black History Month. There were 42 student participants from kindergarten to eighth grade.

The students recited either poems written by African-American authors or original poems written by them. To accompany and enhance their presentations, the students dressed in beautiful African attire and used props and gestures/movements when reciting their poetry.

There were four grade level categories of student presentations. Cheryl Bledsoe, Derek Moody, Herbert Nelson and Wanda Thompson judged the competition. In each category, first through third place winners received trophies, and all the students received beautiful black history certificates. Third grade teacher Darrilyn Peak organized the event.