Essayists from Huffman High School, Woodlawn High School and Booker T. Washington K-8 School are among the winners in the 2026 Realizing the Dream Essay and Art Contest.
All of the winners in the Essay -- High School category are from Birmingham City Schools. Huffman High School placed four winners --- Shekinah Bush, Tiana McDonald, Pedro Muniz and Alexianna Lowe -- with Dasia Benefield from Woodlawn High School joining them in the winner's circle.
Paris Robinson from Booker T. Washington K-8 represented the district in the Essay -- Middle School division.
Each student will receive an Android-based tablet with accessories, with each school receiving $500 per winning student in the form of reimbursement for programming that supports the importance of the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
The University of Alabama Division of Community Affairs will honor the winners during a reception to be held on April 2 at 6 p.m. in the Cadence Bank Art Gallery at Shelton State Community College.