Nearly 200 people gathered Monday at Rodeheaver Auditorium in Winona Lake to celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Part of that celebration included a rousing musical program by the Y-Zone Gospel Choir, an enthusiastic and talented group of teen-agers from Indianapolis. The Y-Zone also gave a program at Rodeheaver Sunday evening.

Another feature of the program was the presentation of academic excellence awards by the Committee to Commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Inc. The first-place award of $1,000 went to Joshiekka Outlaw, a graduate of Warsaw Community High School and a sophomore at Notre Dame. She wants to attend law school and eventually go into politics, and was recognized for her academic work and for her volunteer efforts. Second place went to Sarah Eisenhour, a Whitko High School graduate and a sophomore at Goshen College. Eisenhour, who plans on becoming a pediatrician, also was noted for her volunteer work.

The awards are based on scholastic excellence and community service; minority students who are residents of Kosciusko County are eligible.

"Building Bridges to our Future" was the theme of the program. Speaker Joe Banks, referring to the Y-Zone singers, said, "There is a time when these young people will replace us - investing in them is not altruistic, it's necessary. ...

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