OCOEE, Fla. – The City of Ocoee pays tribute to Black History Month throughout the month of February. A proclamation recognizing the significance of black history was read on Tuesday, February 4 at the Ocoee City Commission meeting. 

The city will announce the winners of its 16th Annual Black History Month Essay Contest at an awards ceremony. The ceremony will be held on Wednesday, February 26 at 7 p.m., at City Hall, 150 North Lakeshore Drive.  Students will recite their winning essays which address the theme, A Vision of Hope. The awards ceremony will be televised on Ocoee TV, Spectrum Channel 493, and streamed online at https://www.ocoee.org/197/Ocoee-TV.

More than 300 essays have been submitted. The essay competition is open to 5th grade students who attend Ocoee schools.  The following elementary schools are participating in the contest: Citrus Elementary; Hope Charter School; Maxey Elementary; Ocoee Elementary; Prairie Lake Elementary; Renaissance Charter School at Crown Point; Thornebrooke Elementary and Westbrooke Elementary. The overall winner will be awarded a $250 gift card from Best Buy. First place winners will receive a $50 gift card from Best Buy.          

In addition, Ocoee TV is airing programs that highlight significant people and events from African-American history.  The city’s 14th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Unity Parade and Celebration and a special presentation by the Ocoee Human Relations Diversity Board are airing on Spectrum Channel 493.  Both the parade and presentation can also be viewed on Ocoee TV’s YouTube channel. Residents may visit City Hall to view biographical portraits of notable African-Americans.

For more information, call 407-905-3100.