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K-State Today

Division of Communications and Marketing
Kansas State University
128 Dole Hall
1525 Mid-Campus Drive North
Manhattan, KS 66506
785-532-2535
vpcm@k-state.edu

January 10, 2020

Martin Luther King Jr. Observance Week activities Saturday, Jan. 25, through Friday, Jan. 31

Submitted by Mirta Chavez

Kansas State University will celebrate the 52nd annual Martin Luther King Jr. Observance Week Saturday, Jan. 25, through Friday, Jan. 31. On behalf of the MLK Observance Week committee, thank you for all you have done to support and advance diversity at our beloved university. We have an excellent foundation from which to reach higher heights due to your collective efforts. 

Below is a list of events. 

Saturday, Jan. 25

  • MLK Day of Service
    8:45 a.m. to noon, Staley School of Leadership Studies
    Join K-State students and community members in acts of service throughout Manhattan. Breakfast at the Leadership Studies Building then on to service sites in the community. Sponsored by HandsOn K-State, the Staley School of Leadership Studies, the DOW Center for Multicultural and Community Studies. Volunteers can contact handson@k-state.edu to sign up or to receive more information. 

Monday, Jan. 27

  • "Impact of the Dream" 16th Annual Dr. Martin L. King Jr. Diversity Student Leader Reception
    5:30 p.m., 137 Waters Hall
    Lecture presented by guest speaker Rev. John R. Williams, member of the Board of Education for Topeka Public Schools USD 501. Sponsored by the College of Agriculture Diversity Programs Office, K-State MANRRS Chapter, and Frontier Farm Credit Services. 

Tuesday, Jan. 28 

  • Commerce Bank and W.T. Kemper Foundation Presidential Awards for Diversity
    3:30 p.m., K-State Alumni Center Ballroom
    We encourage the entire campus community to attend this reception and congratulate our award winners, Del'Sha Roberts and Mariya Vaughan, 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 and the W.T. Kemper Foundation for their support of these awards through the years. Sponsored by Diversity and Multicultural Student Affairs.

Wednesday, Jan. 29

  • Sixth annual Civil Rights Teach-In
    2:30-5 p.m., Leadership Studies Building Town Hall
    Join the conversation on social justice issues related to diversity, equity and inclusion. Sponsored by the College of Arts and Sciences. 
  • Diversity Lecture
    4-5 p.m., 1088 College of Business Building
    Join K-State alumnus Ray Dempsey, vice president and chief diversity officer, British Petroleum, for his lecture on diversity. Sponsored by the College of Business Administration and the Multicultural Business Student Association. 

Thursday, Jan. 30

  • "Dr. King's Legacy Still Lives in Our Nation" MLK Presidential Luncheon
    11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., K-State Alumni Center Ballroom
    Presented by keynote speaker Gen. Lloyd "Fig" Newton. Kansas Board of Regents member Cheryl Harrison-Lee will provide a reflection. Entertainment will be provided by Wayne Goins and the K-State Jazz Combo. Reserve your spot by filling out and submitting the reservation form. Tickets are $20 each. 
  • "Work Smarter: How to Achieve Mastery" Lecture
    4:30 p.m., 1109 Engineering Hall. Book signing and reception to follow lecture.

    Karl W. Reid, Ed.D., executive director for the National Society of Black Engineers, presents three sensible strategies for succeeding in college ... and life. Sponsored by the Kansas Space Grant Consortium and K-State Multicultural Engineering Program.

  • "Buffalo Soldiers"
    5-7:30 p.m., UMB Theater
    The Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art will host a film screening with comments from film consultant and actor Barrie Tompkins of the Nicodemus Buffalo Soldiers Association. 

Friday, Jan. 31

  • Annual Brown Bag Lunch
    11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., K-State Student Union, Bluemont Room
    Bring your lunch and join the K-State faculty and staff affinity groups in learning more about the campuswide diversity and inclusion plan. During this event, you will also have the opportunity to provide input and feedback about the proposed plan. 
  • Laying of the Wreaths and Candlelight Ceremony
    2 p.m, K-State Student Union Courtyard and MLK Bust
    The program will begin with the candlelight ceremony and end at the MLK bust in front of Ahearn Field House. We are grateful to the Office of the President, Office of the Provost, K-State Athletics, College of Business Administration, Human Capital Services, Office of General Counsel, College of Arts and Sciences and Division of Student Life for sponsoring wreaths. The Laying of the Wreaths Ceremony gives us a moment to pause at the end of an eventful week to reflect and recommit to the mission of Martin Luther King Jr. Sponsored by Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc.