Source: Myra Gordon, 785-532-6276, mygordon@k-state.edu
Websites: http://www.k-state.edu/diversity/2012MLKWeekPoster.pdf
News release prepared by: Beth Bohn, 785-532-1544, bbohn@k-state.edu
Monday, Jan. 9, 2012
Honoring a king: Weeklong observance highlights contributions of civil rights leader
MANHATTAN -- Two special events -- one national and one campus-related -- shape the theme of this year's Martin Luther King Jr. Observance Week, Jan. 22-27, at Kansas State University.
Myra Gordon, the university's associate provost for diversity, said the theme of this year's observance week, "Celebrating One Dream Realized … Still Marching Toward One Dream," celebrates the recent installation of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., and the fifth-year anniversary of the installation of the university's bust in honor of the civil rights leader and the dedication of Manhattan's 17th Street in King's honor.
"The Martin Luther King Jr. Observance Week Planning Committee is very excited to present this year's events as we continue the celebration of this truly great man like no other campus in the nation," Gordon said.
The week's events include several guest speakers, including the executive director of the Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial Foundation; an awards reception to honor outstanding diversity efforts on campus; the Martin Luther King Jr. Fellowship Luncheon; and the wreath laying ceremony at the university's King bust.
Activities start Sunday, Jan. 22, with an opening reception from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Kansas State University's Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art. The reception will include the showing of the film "The Rosa Parks Story," followed by wine, cheese and hors d'oeuvres. Space is limited to the first 80 people to respond to mirta@k-state.edu. The event is sponsored by the office of diversity and the Beach Museum of Art.
Other events during the week, all free and open to the public unless otherwise noted, include:
The eighth annual College of Agriculture Diversity Student Leaders Luncheon will be at 12:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 23, in the K and S ballrooms at the K-State Student Union. Bernard Franklin, special assistant to the university's vice president for student life, will present "The Courage to Lead." The luncheon is sponsored by the College of Agriculture and Cargill. For reservations, contact Zelia Wiley at zwiley@k-state.edu.
* The fourth annual College of Architecture, Planning and Design Diversity Lecture will be at 4:30 p.m. Jan. 23 in the Union's Little Theater. Annie Chu, principle of Chu and Gooding Architects, will present the lecture "Slow Motion."
* The film "Daisy Bates: First Lady of Little Rock" will be shown at 7 p.m. Jan. 23 in the Town Hall Room at the Leadership Studies Building. The School of Leadership Studies is sponsoring the showing. The film is about an important but lesser known figure in the civil rights movement.
* The reception for the Commerce Bank Presidential Awards will be at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 24, at the K-State Alumni Center. Awardees are Ariel Anib, senior in criminology from Olathe, Commerce Bank Presidential Student Award for Enhancing Multiculturalism; and Madai Rivera, coordinator of academic services and diversity for the College of Human Ecology and admissions coordinator of Hispanic recruitment, Commerce Bank Presidential Faculty and Staff Award for Distinguished Service to Historically Under-Represented Students. The university's office of diversity will also honor Lora Boyer, assistant director of the McNair Scholars program, with its Champion of Diversity Award.
* The 13th annual College of Business Administration Diversity Lecture will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 25, in the Union's Forum Hall. Bernard J. Milano, certified public accountant and president of the KPMG Foundation's Ph.D. Project, will discuss the project, which helps African-Americans, Hispanic-Americans and Native Americans attain their business doctorates and mentor the next generation.
* Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity's annual Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Program and Candlelight Vigil will be at 7 p.m. Jan. 25 in Forum Hall and will be followed by a hot chocolate social, sponsored by the School of Leadership Studies, in the hall's foyer. This year's program will feature the debut of the filmed interview with Homer Floyd and George Haley, who were the honored guests at last year's fellowship luncheon and who were platform guests when King presented his convocation at the university in 1968.
* The annual MLK Fellowship Luncheon will be at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 26, in the Union Ballroom. The lunch costs $15 and reservations are requested by Jan. 19; fill out and submit the reservation form at http://www.k-state.edu/diversity/2012MLKLunchReservation.htm. The speaker will be Harry Johnson, the executive director of the Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial Foundation, who will discuss the new national memorial. On display during the luncheon will be a series of panels created by the Union Program Council about the national memorial and the university's links to King.
* A celebration of the five-year anniversary of the installation of Kansas State University's memorial bust of King and the dedication of 17th Street as Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Drive will start at 1 p.m. in Manhattan's Long Park, Yuma Street. Participants will precede down the memorial drive to the King bust outside of Ahearn Field House on campus. The Laying of the Wreaths Ceremony at the bust will follow at 2 p.m. The ceremony is sponsored by the university and the city of Manhattan.
More information on Martin Luther King Jr. Observance Week activities is available by contacting the office of diversity at 785-532-6276. A schedule of Manhattan community events to honor King is available at http://www.k-state.edu/media/newsreleases/jan12/MLKCommCalendar.html.
Kansas State University also is participating in the community-wide day of service to honor King. "A Day On, Not a Day Off" will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, Jan. 16, 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. 16 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.