January 16, 2013
Pursuing the dream: University celebrates Martin Luther King Jr. Observance Week
Submitted by Communications and Marketing
Celebrating 50 years of dreams, Kansas State University will host Martin Luther King Jr. Observance Week, Jan. 26 to Feb. 1.
The week's theme is "50 Years of Pursuing the Dream" in honor of the 50th anniversary of King's famous "I have a Dream" speech given in 1963 on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., as part of the March on Washington.
"This is one of the most iconic speeches in the world and it is hard to believe that five decades have gone by since that moment on the mall that propelled a national transformation," said Myra Gordon, the university's associate provost for diversity. "The MLK Observance Week planning committee is very excited to bring you this year's events as we continue the celebration of this truly great man like no other campus does in the nation."
The week's events will begin with a showing of the film "The Rosa Parks Story" at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 26, at the university's Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art. The film tells the story of Parks and her fight for civil rights.
Other events during the week, all free and open to the public unless otherwise noted, include:
* The College of Architecture, Planning and Design Diversity Lecture, featuring speaker Ray Huff from Huff and Gooden Architects, at 4 p.m. Monday, Jan. 28, in the K-State Student Union's Little Theatre.
* Dreams Taking Flight, a screening of the film "Red Tails" at 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 28, in the College Center Conference Room at Kansas State University Salina.
* The College of Agriculture Diversity Student Leader Luncheon will host speaker Eric Johnson, senior pastor at Mount Calvary 2nd Missionary Baptist Church in Canton, Ohio. Johnson will present "Is the Dream Dead or Alive" at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 29, in the Union's Cottonwood Room. Contact to Zelia Wiley at 785-532-5793 to attend. The luncheon is sponsored by the College of Agriculture diversity programs office, Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences and Cargill Inc.
* Commerce Bank Diversity Awards presentations and reception from 3:30-5 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 29, at the Alumni Center's A and D banquet rooms. Kay Ann Taylor, associate professor of curriculum and instruction, will be awarded the Commerce Bank Presidential Faculty/Staff Award for Distinguished Services to Minority Students and Angela Muhwezi, senior in biology and pre-dentistry, Wichita, will be awarded the Commerce Bank Presidential Student Award for Distinguished Services in Enhancing Multiculturalism.
* Raymond Hall, director of global diversity and inclusion for Cargill Inc., will present the 14th annual College of Business Diversity Lecture from 10:30-11:20 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 30, at the K-State Student Union Forum Hall.
* The annual MLK Memorial Program and Candlelight Vigil will start at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 30, at the Union Ballroom. Featured speaker is Tracey Gibson, global inclusion and sustainability leader at Cargill Inc. The event is sponsored by Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. A hot chocolate reception, sponsored by the School of Leadership Studies, will immediately follow the vigil in the concourse area outside the ballroom.
Speaker Clarence Jones, visiting professor at the Martin Luther King Jr. Research and Education Institute at Stanford University, will present "The Challenge of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Legacy in the 21st Century" at the MLK Fellowship Luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 31, at the Alumni Center Ballroom. The lunch is $15 and reservations are required by Jan. 24. A reservation form can be found at http://www.k-state.edu/diversity/2013MLKLunchReservation.htm.
The annual Laying of the Wreaths ceremony will conclude the week's events at 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 1, at the MLK bust in front of Ahearn Field House. Wreath sponsors include the offices of the president and the provost, College of Human Ecology; Raymond Hall, Cargill; Classified Senate; Student Governing Association; and National Pan-Hellenic Council.
More information on Martin Luther King Jr. Observance Week activities is available by contacting the office of diversity at 785-532-6276.
Kansas State University also is participating in the communitywide day of service to honor King. "A Day On, Not a Day Off" will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, Jan. 21, which is Martin Luther King Jr. Day. HandsOn K-State is offering opportunities to volunteer throughout the day. To register, go to http://www.handson.k-state.edu. Volunteer check-in will be at 9 a.m. Jan. 21 at the Manhattan Town Center Mall, Poyntz Avenue. More information is available by contacting HandsOn K-State at 785-532-3670 or handson@k-state.edu.