YOUNGSTOWN - Two students from East High School were honored by the Ohio Civil Rights Commission for essays they wrote for its annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Art, Writing and Multimedia Contest.

Junior J'Kaylien Brown and senior Bryant Smith were both recognized for their essays, which a spokesperson for the Youngstown City School District (YCSD) said "demonstrated a profound understanding of social justice, equality and the contemporary relevance of Dr. King's vision of community and nonviolence."

East High School Principal Debra Campbell is quoted in a press release saying the school is extremely proud of the two students for their work.

"Their representation of East High at the state level highlights the remarkable talent and unwavering commitment to excellence our scholars demonstrate," Campbell said.

The contest is held every year by the Ohio Civil Rights Commission, and encourages students to reflect on Dr. King's life, philosophy and impact on the Civil Rights Movement and on present-day America, and to present those reflections in a written essay.

All winners were honored at an awards ceremony on Thursday, February 26. The full list of winners has not been made public on the Ohio Civil Rights Commission's website yet.