Baltimore County Residents Honored at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration Ceremony

Two Baltimore County Public Schools students were honored Friday with a 2011 Martin Luther King Jr. Content of Character Award.

The ceremony, held at Antioch Baptist Church of Randallstown, is an annual event held to commemorate the birthday of the civil rights leader.

Pikesville Middle School student Austin Groom III got the award today for his work at school, with children and outreach programs at his church, and for mentoring his cousin with schoolwork. "You have demonstrated the kind of compassion and commitment that makes our communities great," said Barry Williams, master of ceremony. Williams is director of the county Office of Recreation & Parks.

"I am so proud," said Groom, an Owings Mills resident. He noted that it is special getting an award honoring someone like Martin Luther King, Jr.

Chesapeake High School Senior Daeyjunaey Evans also earned the award. "It is so great ... They gave me this plaque here. I feel great. I'm speechless." she said.

She received the Content of Character Award for being a model for her classmates, by maintaining a high GPA, for volunteering for disadantaged youth and raising money for arthritis research, Williams said. She is a leader in the Girls Empowerment Mission Program, and has participated in three different sports.

The award, signed by County Executive Kevin Kamenetz, is presented each year to a girl, a boy, a woman and a man who show exemplary character, and who have made significant contributions to their communities, according to a news release from county schools.

The man and woman honored were Charles "Choo" Smith and Jovan Nash.

"I am just so humbled, a man of Martin Luther King Jr.'s stature, whew ... it's very overwhelming, but I want to thank everybody for coming out, and being a part of this wonderful occasion," said Smith, who is a former, original member of the Harlem Globetrotters, and who runs a summer basketball camp for children. "I just want to be able to be 3 percent of the man Martin Luther King was."

"I hope that you all pray for me as I go on as a servant of God and as a servant you young people," Smith said.

Next honored was Jovan Nash, the president and founder of the Everyday Women Network, an organization of day care providers who help eachother as they care for children.

"As a responsible member of your community, you have motivated women to reach their highest potential," Williams said, reading from the award declaration.

Attending were Delegate Adrienne Jones, executive director for the Office of Fair Practices and Community Affairs; Dr. Joe Hairston, superintendent of Baltimore County Public Schools and County Executive Kevin Kamenetz.

Performing several musical numbers was the Millford Mill Concert Chorale, directed by Thaddeus L. Price. And the Windsor Mill Middle School Army JROTC, led by Sgt. Raphael B. Smith, posted and retrieved the colors.

The Rev. Kenneth L. Barney, pastor of the church, made remarks and ended the ceremony with a prayer.

He urged young people to "Dream to be better. Dream to be different. Dream high and dream large. Stay in school and stay in church. Education will take you to the door. Salvation will get you throughthe door."