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.
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) |
