MLK Observance Week
2024 Theme Coming Soon | Monday, January 22nd - Friday, January 26th, 2024
It’s been 56 years since Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. visited Kansas State University in 1968, advocating for nonviolent approaches to remedy social tensions and lead our nation into the future. We’re proud of our connection to Dr. King, and we celebrate his legacy through campus events, as well as in our hearts. Join us as we celebrate his legacy through our week long program.
2024 MLK Observance Week Poster (PDF)
If you'd like to learn more about Dr. King's Legacy and his connection to K-State, visit this website page where you can view PDFs of local newspaper articles, photos, yearbook entries and other materials; King's Legacy.
Saturday, Jan. 20
MLK Day of Service
The Day of Service will consist of multiple service projects that take place simultaneously at different sites across the city of Manhattan. All members of the K-State and Manhattan community are invited to give back to our community. Details about projects and locations will be released closer to the event date.
Contact the SSLS to learn how you can get involved. Karina Moncayo-Michel (karinamichel@ksu.edu)
Monday, Jan. 22
More information coming at a later date.
Tuesday, Jan. 23
Commerce Bank Presidential Awards for Diversity
3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. | Alumni Center Banquet Room
We encourage the entire campus community to attend this reception and congratulate our award winners, who have done so much to advance K-State diversity, to contribute to the success of historically underrepresented students, and to promote inclusive excellence. We are grateful to Commerce Bank for their support of these awards through the years.
Sponsored by Diversity and Multicultural Student Affairs.
Contact: Mirta Chavez (mirta@ksu.edu/785-532-6276), Adam Carr (arcarr@ksu.edu)
Wednesday, Jan. 24
More information coming at a later date.
Thursday, Jan. 25
MLK Presidential Lecture
11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. | Alumni Center Ballroom
Registration: Coming Soon
Sponsored by the Office of the President, the Vice President for DEIB, and Diversity and Multicultural Student Affairs.
Contact: Mirta Chavez (mirta@ksu.edu/785-532-6276), Adam Carr (arcarr@ksu.edu)
College of Business Lecture
Time Pending | College of Business Building
Keynote Speaker, Adam Miller, Head of DEIB at American Century.
Sponsored by College of Business Administration Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Office.
Contact: Dr. Olivia Law-Delrosso (olivia@ksu.edu)
Friday, Jan. 26
Affinity Group Lunch & Learn
11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. | Multicultural Center 204/205
The Faculty and Staff Affinity Network invite you to join in their annual MLK Week Lunch. Affinity group members and other K-State faculty and staff are invited to bring their own lunch and engage in a discussion about social justice and diversity at K-State.
Sponsored by Black Faculty Staff Alliance, Indigenous Faculty Staff Alliance, Alianza, & LGBTQ* Faculty Staff Alliance.
Contact: LaVerne Bitsie-Baldwin; Lbaldwin@ksu.edu , Dr. Zelia Wiley; zwiley@ksu.edu, Marcos Mendez; mmendez@ksu.edu, or Adam Carr, arcarr@ksu.edu
Laying of the Wreaths and Candlelight Ceremony
1:30 p.m | Union Courtyard & Martin Luther King Jr. Bust
The annual Laying of the Wreath and Candlelighting ceremony marks the end of our week of programming. We invite the K-State campus and Manhattan community to join us in remembering Dr. King's life through this event. The program will begin with the candlelight ceremony and end at the MLK bust in front of Ahearn Field House.
Sponsored by Diversity and Multicultural Student Affairs and Alpha Phi Alpha, Fraternity, Inc.
Contact: Mirta Chavez (mirta@ksu.edu/785-532-6276), Brandon Clark (bclark@ksu.edu)
