MIDDLETOWN and WARRENTON, Va. – Lord Fairfax Community College (LFCC) is seeking submissions for an essay and video contest and the College’s “Walking King’s Talk” Award in conjunction with LFCC’s Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration, which will be held on Monday, Jan. 19, 2009. The deadline for the contest and the award nomination is 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 21, 2008.

Following is detailed information about the contest and award nomination process:

• Essay and/or video contest – The contest is open to all high school juniors and seniors and current LFCC students. A first place and second place winner will be chosen in the high school juniors and seniors category and the current LFCC students category. The first place winners will receive a free three-credit class at LFCC and an iPod Nano. The second place winners will receive an iPod Shuffle.

  The contest theme centers on a statement in King’s “I Have a Dream” speech about his children not being judged by the color of their skin but by the “content of their character.” The 600- to 1,000-word essay or three-minute video must focus on what King meant by the phrase “content of their character” and how, on a daily basis, individuals can exemplify or demonstrate by their actions what King meant by this concept.

• “Walking King’s Talk” Award – LFCC is accepting nominations for the sixth annual “Walking King’s Talk” Award. To be eligible for the award, a nominee must make a significant contribution to the enhancement of human rights, civil rights, social action and civility. Nominees must:
• Be a resident of the counties of Clarke, Fauquier, Frederick, Page, Rappahannock, Shenandoah or Warren, or the city of Winchester
• Be actively involved in improving human relations in his/her community
• Exemplify the “peaceful” philosophy and faith of Martin Luther King, Jr. in the quest for improved human relations
• Be an advocate of equal justice and opportunity for all people
• Live a life of service and be a positive role model for others

For entry and nomination forms or for more information, individuals may contact the Student Activities Office at LFCC’s Middletown Campus at 540-868-7216 or studentactivities@lfcc.edu.

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Founded in 1970, Lord Fairfax Community College is a comprehensive, multi-campus public institution of higher education. Through its three locations — the Fauquier and Middletown Campuses and the Luray-Page County Center — the College serves eight localities in the Shenandoah Valley and Piedmont regions.  The localities are the counties of Clarke, Fauquier, Frederick, Page, Rappahannock, Shenandoah and Warren and the city of Winchester. LFCC offers more than 75 associate degree and certificate programs in a wide variety of disciplines, in addition to providing access to bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs offered on site by a four-year institution. LFCC also serves the business community by offering workforce preparation programs for employees and employers. LFCC serves more than 7,600 unduplicated credit students and more than 9,620 individuals in professional development and business and industry courses annually.

Lord Fairfax Community College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award associate degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of Lord Fairfax Community College. LFCC does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, political affiliation or disability in its programs or activities.

For more information, media professionals may contact Kalie Kelch at 540-303-7599 or kkelch@lfcc.edu or Shari Laraway at 540-868-4080 or slaraway@lfcc.edu.