Students from 27 schools participated in this year’s contest, and Rodriguez’s essay was chosen as one of the top three. She and her family will travel to Hormel Foods World Headquarters for a recognition ceremony at 7 a.m. Feb. 27.
This yearly essay contest is sponsored by Hormel’s African American Resource Group (HAARG) and “is designed to pay tribute to the fallen civil rights leader by asking children what he and his work mean to them.”