Dream Scholarship Essay Contest

L to R: Martin Luther King III, Chairman and CEO of Realizing the Dream, Inc.; Dr. Lawrence Carter Sr., Dean, Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel; Scholarship Winners Shamette Franklin, Shannon Knight, Kyler Griffin, Max Leonard and Tiara Meriweather; and Lura Battle and Vernon Strickland from Holland & Knight.

Holland & Knight Announces Winners of Its Essay Scholarship Contest
Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Five high school seniors were awarded college scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $5,000.


ATLANTA – February 26, 2008 – The Atlanta office of Holland & Knight is pleased to announce the winners of the inaugural "Holland & Knight Dream Scholarship – A Call for Tomorrow's Leaders." The essay scholarship contest was designed to help promote the impact Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., had on the country by encouraging Atlanta metro area high school students to think about their dreams for their community and country.

"Our strong commitment to diversity was a driving force in developing a scholarship that would honor Dr. King while educating high school students about those who continued his mission," said Alfred Adams, executive partner of Holland & Knight's Atlanta office. "We are honored to be able to reward these dedicated students with college scholarships."

The essay scholarship was developed by the Black History Month Committee in Holland & Knight's Atlanta office as a way to continue the firm's commitment to diversity by honoring those African-Americans who have paved the way for excellence and positive change, and call on the next generation to follow in their footsteps. The scholarships were funded through the support of donors of the Holland & Knight Charitable Foundation, Inc.

"The scholarship is designed to celebrate and honor black history by passing the torch to the next generation," said Vernon Strickland, one of the organizers of the scholarship. "With today's popular culture, young people are bombarded with so many messages about what's important. Our mission is to provide a conduit and a catalyst for the important message of Dr. King in this generation."

The winners of the inaugural Holland & Knight Dream Scholarship are:

$5,000 scholarship

· Shamette Denise Franklin, Frederick Douglas High School

$3,000 scholarship

· Shannon Knight, Booker T. Washington High School

$1,000 scholarship

· Max Leonard, Henry W. Grady High School

· Tiara Meriweather, Benjamin E. Mays High School

· Kyler Griffin, North Atlanta High School

For more information about the Holland & Knight Dream Scholarship, visit: http://foundation.hklaw.com/programs/DREAM/index.asp

About the Holland & Knight Charitable Foundation: Established as a 501(c)(3) public charity in 1996, the Holland & Knight Charitable Foundation manages and coordinates charitable giving for the firm. Funded through contributions from the firm, Holland & Knight attorneys and staff, as well as external sources, the foundation underwrites several important programs that support education. www.foundation.hklaw.com

About Holland & Knight LLP: Holland & Knight is a global law firm with more than 1,150 lawyers in 17 U.S. offices. Other offices around the world are located in Beijing and Mexico City, with representative offices in Caracas and Tel Aviv. Holland & Knight is among the world’s 18 largest firms, providing representation in litigation, business, real estate and governmental law. Our interdisciplinary practice groups and industry-based teams ensure clients have access to attorneys throughout the firm, regardless of location. www.hklaw.com.