'Kid for King' dreams of more peaceful world
Essay wins girl, 9, seat at groundbreaking of future MLK memorial
BY MARY ANNE ROSS
Correspondent

Hayley Michelle Trachtenberg, of East Brunswick, poses during the recent trip to Washington D.C.

They were all there ... President George W. Bush, former President Bill Clinton, civil rights leaders, an "A list" of celebrities, and of course, 9-year-old Hayley Michelle Trachtenberg.

The East Brunswick youth had the joy of joining with some of the nation's most prominent figures to celebrate the groundbreaking on the Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial Nov. 13 in Washington, D.C.

Hayley and her parents, Lori and Adam, enjoyed the festivities thanks to Hayley's winning essay in last year's nationwide "Kids for King" contest. She wrote the essay as part of a school project assigned by Lauren Gilman, her fourth-grade teacher at Chittick School.

"I wrote about how his dream and everything he did inspired my dream. My dream for the world is harmony, with no fighting and everyone hand in hand," Hayley said.

She was notified in August that her essay was one of 12 chosen by the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Foundation. Winners and their families were invited to the ceremony, with expenses paid by the foundation.

Martin Luther King Jr.'s children were in attendance for the event, along with Muhammad Ali, Oprah Winfrey, Maya Angelou, Diane Sawyer and the Rev. Jesse Jackson.

"We sat about 10 to 15 feet away from the president," Adam Trachtenberg said. "It was quite an honor. It was a very moving event."

Various television news networks were there, and reporters even interviewed some of the contest winners, including Hayley.

"My favorite person at the event was Oprah, but we accidentally met Naomi Judd," Hayley said of the mother in the former mother/daughter singing team of The Judds.

"I received a Kids for King T-shirt and an award that is shaped like a shovel, that says Washington, D.C., Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial Groundbreaking," Hayley said.

The family decided to expand their stay and do some sightseeing while in Washington. U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg arranged for them to have a private tour of the White House.

"Washington is so beautiful. I was really touched by the Lincoln Memorial, but Hayley really liked Ford's Theatre," Lori said.

The contest is not the first that Hayley has won. She received a $75 savings bond for her poster in the East Brunswick Fire Safety contest and this past summer came in second at the Middlesex County Idol contest held at the county fair. Her winning song was "Cabaret."

Hayley said she likes most kinds of

music, but she especially loves musicals.

She seems to have inherited her interests and talent. Her grandmother was a professional singer, and her mother at one time sang in bars accompanied by a friend who played guitar.

Her father pointed out that he "can't play a note of music, but I have very versatile tastes in music."

Hayley grew up hearing all kinds of music, including big band and Eddie Cantor.

She takes voice lessons and studies classical piano with her aunt, who is a concert pianist. She also writes both plays and movies, and sings in her temple's junior choir.

She has studied acting at summer camp and at the State Theatre in New Brunswick.

"When I grow up, I want to be a singer like Carrie Underwood. She's country, but she's also rhythm and blues," Hayley said.

The East Brunswick Board of Education will present a resolution of commendation to Hayley in December.

classical piano with her aunt, who is a concert pianist. She also writes both plays and movies, and sings in her temple's junior choir.

She has studied acting at summer camp and at the State Theatre in New Brunswick.

"When I grow up, I want to be a singer like Carrie Underwood. She's country, but she's also rhythm and blues," Hayley said.

The East Brunswick Board of Education will present a resolution of commendation to Hayley in December.