This year, Mr. Lightning decided to create a contest at Bowling Green Junior High School that is new to this school. A door decoration contest featuring the inspirational African Americans that helped change the world was the theme of the doors. It started in the last week of January and ended on February 1st.

For example, Mrs. Herrington (8th grade teacher) made a door inspiring Marie Van Brittan Brown. She was an American inventor and invented the first home security system. 

Mrs. Heckman created a door about Maya Angelou. She was a poet, singer, memoirist, and civil rights activist. 

“Do what you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better,” said Maya Angelou. This quote means to challenge yourself to do something instead of running away from it.

Mr. Gilpin, a 6th grade social studies teacher, was inspired by African American colleges.

  “It helps to celebrate the different ethnicities in BGJHS and tell them they are important also,” said Gilpin.

   The winner of the contest received a $100 dollar gift card. Here are some of the ideas of what the teachers would get if they were to win. Some teachers would buy school supplies, some would give it to their students for helping decorate, and others would buy candy for their students.

The winner of the contest was Mrs. Braman, a 7th Grade science teacher.

“I am humbled! I can’t believe that I won. There are so many amazing doors, and I think everyone did an exceptional job,” said Braman. 

The theme for the door decorating contest was about STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). She wanted to come up with a way to not only honor African Americans who positively contributed to society but also those who contributed to science. 

“One day, I was reading an article about Bessie Coleman, the first African American woman to get her pilot’s license. Her story caused me to look into other African American women who were pioneers in flight,” said Braman. 

In conclusion, the contest was held because it highlighted influential African Americans and impacted students.