ELKHART — Six local students were the top in their grades in the first Martin Luther King Jr. Day Dream Sheet contest through the Tolson Center.

Students at the Center and in Elkhart Community Schools were invited to write about the dreams they have, according to Rechica Ledesma, Tolson program coordinator.

Ledesma said that there were 139 submissions, many including hopes of eliminating guns, war, taxes, bullying and drugs. Many students also wrote about wanting to be the first or second in their families to go to college, Ledesma said.

The winners, one in each grade, were:

• First grade: Londen Wiley, Eastwood Elementary

• Second grade: Mercy Lee, Pinewood Elementary

• Third grade: Nereida Salazar, Pinewood Elementary

• Fourth grade: Niala Brown, Hawthorne Elementary

• Fifth grade: Jacob Marietta, Pinewood Elementary

• Sixth grade: Margo Southern, Eastwood Elementary

Ledesma said the winners will be invited to read their winning essays during a Black History Month reception at 6 p.m. Feb. 28 at the Tolson Center. The submissions were judged by outside adults, Ledesma said.