INDIANAPOLIS – Franklin County High School senior Autumn J. Riley was awarded with the prestigious 2014 Passing the Torch Award by Indiana Governor Mike Pence Thursday, January 16, 2014 at the Indiana Statehouse during the 23rd Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Indiana Holiday Celebration. Autumn received the award for her winning entry in the Third Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Art, Writing and Multimedia Contest.
“Autumn’s entry showed incredible creativity and understanding of the March on Washington as well as Dr. King’s life,” said Jamal L. Smith, Executive Director of the Indiana Civil Rights Commission. “We were pleased to honor such an outstanding and deserving young woman.”
Autumn’s entry, titled Guardian, was selected as the winner by a panel of judges who reviewed more than 300 entries for this year’s contest. The theme for the Third Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Art, Writing and Multimedia Contest was to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington.
In addition to receiving the 2014 Passing the Torch Award from Indiana Governor Mike Pence, Autumn also received a $500.00 college scholarship from Indiana Black Expo, Inc. Autumn, who currently holds a 3.5 grade point average at Franklin County High School, plans to major in Pre-Dentistry in the fall at IUPUI.
The Indiana Civil Rights Commission enforces the Indiana civil rights laws and provides education and services to the public in an effort to ensure equal opportunity for all Hoosiers and visitors to the State of Indiana. For more information visit: www.in.gov/icrc or call 1-800-628-2909.
Click here to see the winning entry.