Why A Civil Rights Memorial?

The City of Victorville Civil Rights Memorial was established to recognize the achievements of individuals who have made a significant impact in promoting the civil rights of all people. The Civil Rights Memorial is located at the southwest corner of the employee parking area at City Hall, 14343 Civic Drive, Victorville, CA 92392.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was the first civil rights leader memorialized with a bronze plaque in the Civil Rights Memorial. Shortly after its unveiling, the City of Victorville established the Civil Rights Essay Contest.

What Is The Annual Civil Rights Essay Contest? 

Each year the City of Victorville sends invitations to elementary schools within the City inviting 5th and 6th grade students to submit entries about an American civil rights leader and indicate why he or she should be honored with a bronze plaque within the Civil Rights Memorial.  The winning essay determines the civil rights leader to be honored in the Civil Rights Memorial and a portion of the student's winning essay is displayed on a bronze plaque for the civil rights honoree.

Plaques recognizing Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Asa Philip Randolph, Frederick Douglass, Cesar Chavez, Harriet Tubman, Lucy Burns, and Jackie Robinson are currently displayed at the memorial based on winning essays from previous years.

Essay Contest Judging Criteria

The City of Victorville Community Services Advisory Committee (CSAC), evaluates student essays based on the following criteria:

• Content:  Clearly express ideas in an organized manner.
• Expression:  Original voice and clear presentation of topic.
• Research:  Valuable content and/or research incorporated into essay. 
• Originality:  Treatment of theme should show imagination and human interest.

Meet the 2022 City of Victorville Civil Rights Memorial Essay Contest Winner

Natalia Jackson, a sixth-grade student at Irwin Academy School of Performing Arts, is the winner of our 2022 Civil Rights Memorial Essay Contest.  The subject of Natalia's winning essay is Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, a free African American author, poet, and activist born in 1825; and co-founder of the NACWC - National Association of Colored Women's Club.

A portion of Natalia's winning essay will be displayed on a bronze plaque honoring Frances EW Harper in the City of Victorville’s Civil Rights Memorial in January 2023.

Heritage Victor Valley Medical Group, generously sponsored the bronze plaque honoring Frances EW Harper.

Read Winning Student Civil Rights Essays

2023 Katherine Johnson winning essay by Sophia Burciaga 

2022  Frances EW Harper winning essay by Natalia Jackson

2021 Ruth Bader Ginsburg winning essay by Sohan Patel

2020 Jackie Robinson winning essay by Bradley Brook Russell

2019 Lucy Burns winning essay by Evan Young

2018 Harriet Tubman winning essay by Penelope Trylch

2017 Cesar Chavez winning essay by Hanna Reynolds

2016 Fredrick Douglass winning essay by Diego LeComte

2015 Asa Philip Randolph winning essay by Reiner Yabut

Our 2022 Civil Rights Bronze Plaque Sponsor

 How Can I Become A Sponsor?

For more information regarding our Civil Memorial Rights Essay Contest and to have your company name included on the bronze plaque for generations to see, please call (760) 955-3306, or send an email.