MLK Commemoration

2022 MLK Celebration, Wednesday Jan 26

MLK Celebration: I come as one, but stand as 10,000

Location: live stream link will be shared here

*Free and open to the public

Time: 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.

UNC Greensboro, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Guilford College, and Guilford Technical Community College are teaming up to present the 10th annual Joint Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration.

This year’s theme is “I come as one, but stand as 10,000.” The event will feature a panel of student leaders from all four institutions. 

Allyson Beatty from UNCG, Alyssa McCall from N.C. A&T, Lacey-Ann Reynolds from Guilford College, and Bryce Scott from GTCC will reflect on how the legacy of civil rights leaders have informed their own leadership and advocacy on their campuses and in their communities and how their respective institutions and campus leaders can help facilitate and support their work. LaTonya Wiley, senior interpreter at the International Civil Rights Center and Museum, will serve as moderator for the panel. 

In addition to the panel discussion, the program will include recorded performances by students and staff from each campus: The Neo Black Society Gospel Choir from UNCG, National Pan-Hellenic Council members from N.C. A&T, Whitney Smith from Guilford College, and Tiffany Overby from GTCC. 

The annual event is typically held in person, on campus each year. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event will be held online, and changes have been made to the program to better accommodate a virtual environment. 

The University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Office of Intercultural Engagement
Housing and Residence Life
Division of Student Affairs

North Carolina A&T State University

The MLK Commemorative Observance Committee
The Division of Student Affairs
Multicultural Student Center
Collegiate Chapter of NAACP at NC A&T
Men on the Move
Memorial Student Union
Student Activities Office
Student Development

Guilford College

Intercultural Engagement Center

Guilford Technical Community College

Office of Student Life and Student Activities

Listing of past Keynote Speakers and MLK Service Award Winners

YEAR	KEYNOTE SPEAKER	SERVICE AWARD WINNER
2020	Natalie Warne
2019	Ilyasah Shabazz
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)