Faith, hope and love.

These three themes radiated from the halls of the Decatur High School Performing Arts Center last Monday, paying homage to the life and teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

And with a large cast of talented musicians, speakers and poets, MLK Celebration Committee Chair Ron Walker assembled an entertaining, community-centered event that aptly paid homage to the late reverend and political leader.

The January 21 event, which hosted hundreds of Federal Way residents, marked the 15th year of the city's annual celebration, Walker noted.

Dr. Andre Sims, Pastor of Christ the King Bible Fellowship in Federal Way, served as the event Master of Ceremonies.

As Sims took the podium in a sharp, dark red suit, he welcomed the group Voices of Praise, a Puget Sound gospel and harmony collaboration that performed the national anthem and energized the audience with their multi-part harmonies.

No sooner had the echoes of their voices subsided, than the reverberations of drums rocked the Decatur High stage.

In their first year on the MLK Celebration bill, the Thomas Jefferson High School Drum Line surely thundered their way into line-up.

With syncopated, fast-paced lead drumming, accompanied by the bellowing of five bass drums, TJ's percussionists delivered a memorable performance that-at least from the front row-could be felt, as well as heard.

Like a gentle rain following a thunderstorm, the light string music emanating from the classical guitar of Chilean-born Cesar Medel offered a welcomed contrast to the high-energy acts already on stage.

Medel's nimble fingers graced the six strings of his classical guitar, plucking and strumming up and down every fret on the instrument's neck.

The MLK Celebration also featured appearances by first-place winners Andrea Ortega and Michael Sapa Afoa.

Ortega, a junior at Todd Beamer High School, won the $100 Tony and Trise Moore Scholarship for her inspiring poetry.

Afoa shared his prize-winning essay about Dr. King with the audience. The Todd Beamer sophomore is a student of Mr. Kulaas.

Hope and persistence emerged as two repeating themes in the life and message of keynote speaker Patrick Tamnkang.

The Cameroon-born Tamnkang grew up in a small village, where he completed primary school. And while the Cameroon government subsidizes university education, families must pay for their children to attend secondary school, a requirement to attend college.

Tamnkang's parents could not afford to send their son to secondary school, and there began his life-long struggle to pursue an education, and ultimately a chance to study in the United States.

He encouraged the audience to relentlessly follow their dreams, much like Dr. King did, and never give up, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles.

Professional speaker Reginald Gillins no doubt provided the MLK Celebration audience with the most energetic presentation of the afternoon.

The Toastmasters champion delivered a remarkably accurate reenactment of Dr. King's famous "I Have a Dream" speech.

With the power of his voice, Gillins transformed the Decatur Performing Arts Center into the Lincoln Memorial, and the cold Northwest afternoon into a steamy summer day in the South, where King spoke to thousands of Americans who marched on Washington, D.C.

Still, the performance Gillins delivered was nothing short of remarkable.

Like the rest of the MLK Celebration performers, Gillin's speech served as the capstone for what will likely make the 15th year of this event the most memorable.

Award Winners

Elementary Poster

1. Jassie Dabin Lee, First Grade, Sherwood Forest

2. Taeya Dixon, Second Grade, Sherwood Forest

3. Ace B. Mendiola, Second Grade, Mirror Lake

Middle School Poster

1. Tori Alquiza, Seventh Grade, Sacajawea

2. Graciela Hernandez, Eighth Grade, Sacajawea

3. Lexis Pawlowski, Seventh Grade, Sacajawea

High School Poster

1. Chris Oswald, Senior, Decatur

2. Austin Nuss, Junior, Decatur

3. Jennifer Wagner, Senior, Decatur

Elementary School Essay

1. Anna Seymour, Third Grade, Star Lake

2. Mohammed Zubair Ramzan, Fourth Grade, Valhalla

3. Ashley Butts, Fifth Grade, Wildwood

Middle School Essay

1. Jevaughn Palmer, Sixth Grade, Lakota

2. Emily Victor, Eighth Grade, Sacajawea

3. Daniel Song, Sixth Grade, Sacajawea

High School Essay

1. Michael Sapa Afoa, Sophomore, Todd Beamer

2. Jevoy Palmer, Freshman, Federal Way

3. Joseph Pham, Sophomore, Todd Beamer

High School Poetry

1. Andrea Ortega, Junior, Todd Beamer

2. Felicia Hope Patin, Junior, Federal Way

3. Chloe Allen, Freshman, Decatur