Milton students win human and civil rights awards

Mariner Middle and H.O. Brittingham Elementary students were recognized in May for award-winning work in a contest focusing on human and civil rights. 

Sponsored by the Delaware State Education Association, the 2021 annual contest was open to students in elementary through high school in writing, art and digital media categories under the theme “The future depends on what we do in the present.”

DSEA's Human and Civil Rights Task Force honored student submissions focused on the importance of diversity and its impact on society.  

In the art category for students in fifth through eighth grade, Mariner Middle students Riley Grooms won first place and Alex Barth won second place.

Riley’s colorful poster shows a young person holding a sign supporting gay rights, with other aspects of the poster advocating for Black Lives Matter and denouncing racism. Riley said she came up with the design because LGBTQ+ people like herself want equal rights just as anyone else would.

Alex created a wooden Earth disk to make a statement about pollution. He said he made several rough drafts on his iPad before he carved a 2-by-4 piece of wood into a disk. He said he primed it and then hydro dipped it before creating cardboard continents. 

“The bottom side (red, black, and grey) represents the future polluted Earth and the top half (green, blue, and brown), represents the good future and a clean Earth,” Alex said.

Seventh-grade English Language Arts teacher Amanda Kilby said her students participate in the DSEA Human and Civil Rights contest every year.  

“It is a great opportunity to highlight brilliant civil and human rights leaders past and present,” Amanda said. “My students love the choice in projects, whether that be writing, art or digital media. This contest helps to encourage that every child, no matter their unique circumstance, can grow up to be what they dream. I have been incredibly moved by all of the submissions. My students have placed in all categories over the years.” 

Amanda’s son, HOB student Cam Kilby, earned first place in the digital media category for students in kindergarten through fourth grade. Cam created a presentation encouraging people of all races to spend time with each other and work together to end hate.

“I want to help the community and make it better so everyone is treated equal,” Cam said.