Newman University Student Life will celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day with a third annual celebration and award ceremony to be held virtually on Monday, Jan. 18.
Nominations are being accepted through Monday, Dec. 7, for the Martin Luther King Jr. Distinguished Service Awards. The awards honor individuals for their service in keeping with King’s principles and ideals.
Community members can nominate individuals in three different categories: Newman University faculty, staff, administration, and Alumni; Newman University Students; and members or organizations of the Wichita community.
Previous award ceremonies have been preceded by a walk in silence from De Mattias Hall to the St. John’s Chapel inside Sacred Heart Hall. The demonstration of solidarity honors King and the many citizens who advocated and fought for the Civil Rights Act of 1964 but didn’t live to see its benefits.
The 2021 walk and awards ceremony will be held virtually with the safety of the community in mind during the ongoing pandemic. The virtual Martin Luther King Jr. Unity Walk will premiere at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 18 on the Newman Student Life Facebook page followed by the awards ceremony.
During the ceremony, five leaders connected to King and who made an important impact in the civil rights movement but rarely got public recognition for their contribution will be honored.
