Dr. King had an incredible vision built on principles of justice, equity, and love. In honor of his memory, the Lyric asks students to write about the important dreams they have for their lives, communities, and families.The Dream BIG Awards Ceremony celebrates the immense vision of Baltimore area Students in grades 5th-12th grade. Students are eligible to enter the contest with  a 300-word essay; a one-page poem; or a 60-second edited video. Finalists will have the opportunity to share their work and receive a prize package. The contest, which kicked off in January on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, asked Baltimore-area students in grades 5-12 to consider their big dreams—for their lives, communities, and schools—then submit a poem, essay or video bringing that dream to life. This year’s finalists were selected by final adjudicator, Fanon Hill, Director of the Youth Resiliency Institute. 

The Lyric Education team is so proud of all of our 2022 Dream Big Contest finalists. These students have put in the work to imagine impressive, creative solutions to real-life inequities they and others face in their lives. We are always moved by the vision of young people in our community, and can’t wait for them to be able to share their dreams on-stage with an audience.

Denise Kumani Gantt, Director of Education

• AFRO Newspapers: https://afro.com/5th-annual-dream-big-contest-winners-honored-on-stage-at-the-lyric-baltimore/?msclkid=156ae447c4c111ec9a48d1a2d1154766  
• Nottingham: https://www.nottinghammd.com/2022/04/21/three-bcps-students-named-grand-prize-winners-in-lyric-educations-5th-annual-dream-big-contest/?msclkid=a151b591c4c011eca8f2388690888c9e  
• Baltimore City Biz List: https://www.citybiz.co/article/243945/finalists-announced-in-lyric-educations-5th-annual-dream-big-contest/

                         Congratulations to the following students: 

VISIONARIES

• Joshua Sharp, Grade 12, The Community School 
• BellaGrace Annibal, Grade 6, Homeschooled
• Grayson Bess, Grade 5, Calvert School 
• Chiemela Nwokoro, Grade 10, Eastern Technical High School 
• Xin Yue Lu, Grade 10, Dulaney High School
• Graham TerBeek, Grade 6, Dumbarton Middle School 

DREAMERS

• Fatou Diouf, Grade 11, Baltimore City College 
• Asia Webster, Grade 9, Baltimore City College 
• Jamya Anderson, Grade 5, Dallas F. Nicholas Elementary School 
• Joy Onchera, Grade 6, The Belair-Edison School 
• Carrie Snowden, Grade 11, Baltimore Design School 
• Carmyn Harvin, Grade 11, Kenwood High School