Fresno County students present art, essays, and speeches at annual MLK Jr. reception

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Pieces of art, essays, and speeches were presented Thursday in the name of loving with passion and living with compassion.

It was all part of the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Reception for student winners in the annual art, essay, and speech contest hosted by the Fresno County Office of Education. Students in grades k-12 participated.

Organizers said they hope students learned about Dr. King. "That they learned what Martin Luther King was all about. That we need to really care for each other. That we need to go out of our way to show compassion to others," said Shirley Hargis, literacy consultant at FCOE.

More than 200 students participated.

Guests of Thursday night's event were invited to take a canned food donation for a local charity.