The Office of Intercultural Engagement | Annual MLK Service Award & MLK Commemorations
Annual MLK Service Award & MLK Commemorations
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration
Thursday, January 22, 2026
7:00pm to 9:00pm
UNCG Auditorium, College of Visual & Performing Arts
The annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration will be held on Thursday, January 22, 2026 in the UNCG Auditorium. This special event honors the life and legacy of Dr. King and provides an opportunity for community dialogue, reflection, and inspiration. This event is a collaboration between UNCG, Greensboro College, Guilford College, Guilford Technical Community College, and North Carolina A&T.
Please make plans to join us for an evening filled with engaging dialogue, powerful speakers, and opportunities to celebrate Dr. King’s vision of justice, equality, and service.
The theme for this year is “Mission Possible ll: Building Community, Uniting a Nation the Non-Violent Way” and will feature the NC A&T Gospel Choir.
| YEAR | THEME | SERVICE AWARD WINNER |
| 2026 | Mission Possible ll: Building Community, Uniting a Nation the Non-Violent Way | |
| 2025 | Mission Possible: Protecting Freedom, Justice, and Democracy in the Spirit of Non-Violence | Natalie Paul |
| 2024 | Dream it. Believe it. Do it. Developing Leaders for Tomorrow | Alhanna Cancel-Roman |
| 2023 | Envisioning Our Future | Tyhrah Buissereth |
| 2022 | “I come as one, but stand as 10,000.” | Aja Boyd and Edmond Gayton |
| YEAR | KEYNOTE SPEAKER | SERVICE AWARD WINNER |
| 2021 | Not Awarded | |
| 2020 | Natalie Warne | Mahlik Conley |
| 2019 | Ilyasah Shabazz | Jamie Wharton |
| 2018 | Payton Head | Payton McGarry |
| 2017 | DeRay Mckesson | Sherrill Roland |
| 2016 | Julianne Malveaux | Kaziah Miller |
| 2015 | Sonia Sanchez | Kaziah Miller |
| 2014 | Jeff Johnson | Kelton Hollister (Student) |
| 2013 | Dick Gregory | Aisha Crawford (Student) |
| 2012 | Elaine Brown | Parker Hurley (Student) |
| 2011 | Dr. Terrence Roberts | Kent L. Singletary (Student) |
| 2010 | Dr. Mae Jemison | Zimuzor Ugochukwu (Student) |
| 2009 | Rev. Al Sharpton | Wanda Torain (Undergraduate Admissions) |
| 2008 | Bernice A. King | Brandon Nnodi (Student) |
| 2007 | Dr. Joseph Lowery, civil rights activist | Dr. Spoma Jovanovic (Communication Studies) |
| 2006 | Angela Davis, Black Panther, UC Berkeley, etc. | Rhonda Robinson (Student) |
| 2005 | Julian Bond, NAACP Chairman, former Georgia senator | Kathleen Casey (Educational Leadership & Cultural Foundations) |
| 2004 | Franklin McCain, one of Greensboro Four | Dauvell Evans (Student) |
| 2003 | Rev. Samuel “Billy” Kyles, Pastor, Monumental Baptist Church, Memphis; was with MLK Jr. during last hour | Patricia J. Bowden (Religious Studies) |
| 2002 | Dr. Jocelyn Elders, first African American woman to be US Surgeon General | Joette Nicole McLaurin (Student) |
| 2001 | Herman Boone, former football coach; inspiration for “Remember the Titans” | Erma Totten (Service Worker, Cone Residence Hall) |
| 2000 | David Dinkins, former mayor of NYC | Robert Earl Randolph, Jr. (Student) |
| 1999 | Manning Marable, historian and author; Professor, Columbia | Patricia L. Bailey (Director, Disability Services) |
| 1998 | Myrlie Evers-Williams, Chair, NAACP; widow of Medgar Evers | Jeffrey Thigpen (Student) |
| 1997 | Shirley Chisholm, former US Representative | Lenora A. Richardson |
| 1996 | Dr. Michael K. Honey | Deardre R. Johnson (Student) |
| 1995 | Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, Professor of Communications Studies at UNC-CH | Darrell Wheeler |
| 1994 | Dr. George Subira | Patrice N. Vinson (Student) |
| 1993 | Ms. Naomi Tutu | Carolyn Moore |
| 1992 | Dr. James Cone | Daniel T. “J J” McEachern (Student) |
| 1991 | Rev. Tyrone Crider | Odessa Patrick (Biology) |
| 1990 | Mary Berry | William R. McNeely, Jr. (Student) |
| 1989 | Rev. Ralph Abernathy, associate of MLK Jr. and leader of SCLC | Ernestine Small (Nursing) |
| 1988 | John Lewis, Congressman, Georgia | Bradley Mitchell (Student) |
| 1987 | Dick Gregory, comedian and political activist | Joseph Himes (Sociology) |
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Service Award was established in 1986 to honor the memory of the late civil rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This annual award will be presented to a student and faculty or staff at UNCG whose community activities and involvement embody the spirit of Dr. King’s service to humanity. The award Selection Committee will look for one who has gone “beyond expectations” in making outstanding contributions in the area of service, particularly service to the UNCG community. The student winner will receive a $500 award, and the faculty and staff winner will receive a plaque.
A qualified recipient could be described in Dr. King’s own words, in his “Conquering Self-Centeredness” speech given in Montgomery, Alabama, on August 11, 1957:
“An individual has not started living fully until they can rise above the narrow confines of individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of humanity … Every person must decide at some point, whether they will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness. This is the judgment. Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, “What are you doing for others?”
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, “Conquering Self-Centeredness”, Alabama, on August 11, 1957
For Students:
A student who has made outstanding contributions to the UNCG community through service
Must be in good academic and good conduct/social standing at UNCG
Must be enrolled at UNCG during the semester in which the nomination is made
Must be enrolled at UNCG during the semester in which the award is given
For Faculty & Staff:
A faculty or staff member who has made outstanding contributions to the UNCG community through service
Must be employed a minimum of 3 years at UNCG at the nomination deadline (December 7th, 2025)
Must be employed at UNCG during the semester in which the nomination is made
Must be employed at UNCG during the semester in which the award is given
Commitment to Leadership: Describe how the nominee has led by example in advocating for human rights or in providing awareness of human rights issues by encouraging harmony and/or promoting understanding among different individuals or groups in the community
Dedication to Service: Describe the individual’s devotion to service. Explain the nature of the individual and the steps he/she has taken to “go the extra mile.”
Impact of Involvement: Describe in detail how the individual has impacted the community and/or individual(s) through his/her efforts. What has he/she done to “make a difference?”
Resourcefulness: Describe how the applicant makes use of the resources available to her or him. Resources should be considered broadly and may include but is not limited to fund raising, networking and outreach.
Creativity: Please describe how the candidate uses creative approaches to community service and empowerment.
Nominations are due by Sunday, December 7th, 2025!