With students returning to classes this week, Kansas State University is preparing to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr with events beginning this weekend.
Chief Inclusion and Diversity Officer Dr Bryan Samuel spoke with KMAN about the some of the week’s activities. He says K-State has had a rich history honoring Dr. King dating back to his 1968 speech on campus Dr. King’s son also spoke on campus last year.
“We have made a conscious decision to make sure our students are engaged and have every opportunity to participate in programs and services that we offer. When students return and we get a good opportunity, we found that it’s been very meaningful,” Samuel said.
One of the major events for the King celebrations takes place Saturday with the MLK Day of Service.
“The Staley School of Leadership will host a breakfast and kickoff for individuals interested in servicing others. We’ll meet and then you go do your service,” Samuel said.
Other highlights of MLK Week on campus include the annual MLK Presidential Luncheon on Jan. 30 in the K-State Alumni Center ballroom. Samuel says 4-star U.S. Air Force Gen. Lloyd “Fig” Newton will deliver the keynote address. The title of his speech is “Dr, King’s Legacy Still Lives in Our Nation.” Tickets are $20 and registration is due by Jan. 24. The week of activities concludes at 2 p.m. Jan. 31 with the annual laying of the wreath on the Dr. King bust outside of Ahearn Fieldhouse.
“We usually have the laying of the wreaths and a couple of key administrators will say a few words,” Samuel said.
KMAN’s full interview with Dr. Samuel is available below
The full list of MLK week activities on the K-State campus includes:
Saturday, Jan. 25
MLK Day of Service
8:45 a.m. to noon, Staley School of Leadership Studies
Join K-State students and community members in acts of service throughout Manhattan. Breakfast at the Leadership Studies Building then on to service sites in the community. Sponsored by HandsOn K-State, the Staley School of Leadership Studies, the DOW Center for Multicultural and Community Studies. Volunteers can contact handson@k-state.edu to sign up or to receive more information.
Monday, Jan. 27
“Impact of the Dream” Diversity Student Leader Reception
5:30 p.m., 137 Waters Hall
Lecture presented by guest speaker Rev. John R. Williams, member of the Board of Education for Topeka Public Schools USD 501. Sponsored by the College of Agriculture Diversity Programs Office, K-State MANRRS Chapter, and Frontier Farm Credit Services.
Tuesday, Jan. 28
Commerce Bank and W.T. Kemper Foundation Presidential Awards
3:30 p.m., K-State Alumni Center Ballroom
We encourage the entire campus community to attend this reception and congratulate our award winners, Del’Sha Roberts and Mariya Vaughan, who have done so much to advance K-State diversity, to contribute to the success of historically underrepresented students, and to promote inclusive excellence. We are grateful to Commerce Bank and the W.T. Kemper Foundation for their support of these awards through the years. Sponsored by Diversity and Multicultural Student Affairs.
Wednesday, Jan. 29
Sixth annual Civil Rights Teach-In
2:30-5 p.m., Leadership Studies Building Town Hall
Join the conversation on social justice issues related to diversity, equity and inclusion. Sponsored by the College of Arts and Sciences.
Diversity Lecture
4-5 p.m., 1088 College of Business Building
Join K-State alumnus Ray Dempsey, vice president and chief diversity officer, British Petroleum, for his lecture on diversity. Sponsored by the College of Business Administration and the Multicultural Business Student Association.
Thursday, Jan. 30
“Dr. King’s Legacy Still Lives in Our Nation” MLK Presidential Luncheon
11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., K-State Alumni Center Ballroom
Presented by keynote speaker Gen. Lloyd “Fig” Newton. Kansas Board of Regents member Cheryl Harrison-Lee will provide a reflection. Entertainment will be provided by Wayne Goins and the K-State Jazz Combo.
Submit your registration form by Jan. 24.
Tickets are $20 each.
“Work Smarter: How to Achieve Mastery” Lecture
4:30 p.m., 1109 Engineering Hall
Book signing and reception to follow lecture.
Karl W. Reid, Ed.D., executive director for the National Society of Black Engineers, presents three sensible strategies for succeeding in college… and life. Sponsored by the Kansas Space Grant Consortium and K-State Multicultural Engineering Program.
“Buffalo Soldiers”
5-7:30 p.m., UMB Theater
The Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art will host a film screening with comments from film consultant and actor Barrie Tompkins of the Nicodemus Buffalo Soldiers Association.
Friday, Jan. 31
Annual Brown Bag Lunch
11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., K-State Student Union, Bluemont Room
Bring your lunch and join the K-State faculty and staff affinity groups in learning more about the campuswide diversity and inclusion plan. During this event, you will have the opportunity to provide input and feedback about the proposed plan.
Laying of the Wreaths and Candlelight Ceremony
2 p.m, K-State Student Union Courtyard and MLK Bust
The program will begin with the candlelight ceremony and end at the MLK bust in front of Ahearn Field House. A hot chocolate reception will follow, sponsored by the Staley School of Leadership Studies.
We are grateful to the Office of the President, Office of the Provost, K-State Athletics, College of Business Administration, Human Capital Services, Office of General Counsel, College of Arts and Sciences and Division of Student Life for sponsoring wreaths. The Laying of the Wreaths Ceremony gives us a moment to pause at the end of an eventful week to reflect and recommit to the mission of Martin Luther King Jr. Sponsored by Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc.
