MLK Commemoration

2023 MLK Celebration, Wednesday Jan 18

MLK Celebration: Envisioning Our Future

Location: Harrison Auditorium at NC A&T

*Free and open to the public

Time: 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.

Free shuttles departing UNCG at 6pm and 6:30pm from Stirling St, between the front of the EUC and the Walker Parking Deck.  Departing Harrison Auditorium at 8:45pm and 9:15pm.

Livestream link for those who cannot attend in person.

UNCG, N.C. A&T, Guilford College and Guilford Technical Community College (GTCC) are teaming up to present the 11th annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration on Wednesday, Jan. 18, at 7 p.m. at N.C. A&T State University’s Harrison Auditorium.

This year’s theme is “Envisioning Our Future.” The event will feature a panel of student activists from all four institutions. Together, they 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. Community leader La’ Tonya Wiley will serve as moderator for the panel. In addition to the panel discussion, the program will include a live musical performance by UNCG’s Neo Black Society Gospel Choir accompanied by NC A&T graduate Samuel Josh Sauls.  The GTCC Theater Department will also deliver a Tableau performance honoring the legacy of Dr. King, Jr.  Each institution will also present an annual award to a student or staff member who has distinguished themselves in honoring the legacy of service, activism and civil rights.

For more accommodation requests or further information, please contact the UNCG Office of Intercultural Engagement at 336-334-5090.

Proof Clear Bag Policy Aframe

Official Co-Sponsors

The University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Office of Intercultural Engagement
Division of Student Affairs

Neo Black Society

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 THEME SERVICE AWARD WINNER
2023 Envisioning Our Future  Tyhrah Buissereth
2022 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)