PHOTO BY JEFF ROSLOW

Kayla Rodriguez sings "I have Nothing," while Chance Liburd plays the piano Wednesday at the 12th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast at the Bartow Civic Center. The Harrison School of Arts students drew a thunderous ovation for their performance.

PHOTO BY JEFF ROSLOW

Members of the crowd bow their heads during the closing prayer led by Pastor William F. Leonard Wednesday at the 12th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast. From left is Kylie Sullivan, who won first place in the elementary category of the essay contest, her grandmother, Nancy Sullivan and Lincoln Avenue Academy principal Evelyn Hollen. That is the school where Kylie attends.

PHOTO BY JEFF ROSLOW

The first place winners read their essays Wednesday at the 12th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast. From left is elementary school winner Kylie Sullivan from Lincoln Avenue Academy, Gabrielle Lerma from the middle school who attends Westwood Middle and Bridget Barker who won in the high school category from George Jenkins High.

PHOTO BY JEFF ROSLOW

Jermaine Fuller leads the crowd in "Lift Every Voice and Sing," Wednesday at the 12th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast at the Bartow Civic Center.

PHOTO BY JEFF ROSLOW

Nikki Ocampos,on the right, a student from Harrison School of the Arts who won second place in the essay contest for the high school competition, had her younger sister and brother with her Wednesday at the annual breakfast. On the left is Rachelle, a sixth grader at Lawton Chiles, and Reggie, a fifth grader at Lawton Chiles.

PHOTO BY JEFF ROSLOW

Award winning students pose with Dr. Shandale Terrell and Lincoln Academy principal Evelyn Hollen Wednesday at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast. From left in the front row is Precious Mosley, who won second place in the in the middle school category. She is a seventh grader at Lakeland Highlands Middle. Kaylie Sullivan, who won first place in the elementary category. She is a fifth grader at Lincoln Avenue. Kayleigh Linton, a second place winner from Lincoln Elementary and Emily Sheldon, a a third place winner in the elementary category. She is a fifth grader at Lincoln Avenue Elementary.

PHOTO BY JEFF ROSLOW

Polk County Commissioner Todd Dantzler, left, and Polk County Administrator Jim Freeman bow their head during a prayer Wednesday morning at the 12th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast at the Bartow Civic Center.

PHOTO BY JEFF ROSLOW

Bridget Barker reads her essay that won first place in the high school category during Wednesday's Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast at the Bartow Civic Center.

PHOTO BY JEFF ROSLOW

Gabriella Lerma reads the essay that earned her first place in the middle school category. She is a student at Westwood Middle School.

PHOTO BY JEFF ROSLOW

Kylie Sullivan reads her essay Wednesday at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast.