West Chester University (WCU) will host special events across several days honoring the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr., whose federal holiday is Jan. 20 this year.
So that the entire campus community can participate, this year’s events will take place Jan. 22-29. The complete schedule is posted online here. All campus MLK events are open to all students, faculty, staff, and the public.
The annual MLK Awards Celebration and reception, at which WCU alumni who exemplify Dr. King’s legacy are recognized with Drum Major for Justice Awards, will take place Friday, Jan. 24, from 10-11:30 AM. in Sykes Ballrooms. This program has been organized and hosted for over 30 years by the Society of WCU, formerly WCU’s Frederick Douglass Society. Information on the recipients of these and other awards will be released following the event. Register here.
Service has been part of the University’s commemoration of Dr. King’s legacy from the beginning. On Thursday, Jan. 23, WCU’s Center for Civic Engagement & Social Impact (CCESI) will host a service project bringing the campus community together to clean toys for children and create bouquets for senior citizens. Volunteers are invited to participate from 10:00 AM-3:00 PM in Sykes Ballrooms.
In addition, there will be a student panel entitled Through Our Eyes on Wednesday, Jan. 22, at 3:00 PM in Mitchell Hall 203.
On Wednesday, Jan. 29, Dr. Shaun Harper, a nationally recognized expert in diversity, equity, and inclusion, will close the MLK commemorative events. He will speak from 4-5:00 PM in Emilie K. Asplundh Concert Hall. Click here to register.
Harper is a provost professor of education, business, and public policy at the University of Southern California (USC), where he founded the USC Race and Equity Center. Author of 12 books and more than 100 papers, his groundbreaking work in education and social justice has been featured in such media as The Washington Post, Forbes, Rolling Stone, NPR, CNN, and MSNBC. Harper has repeatedly been recognized by Education Week as one of the 10 most influential scholars in the field of education.
Find the complete details on WCU’s 2024 MLK Campus Commemoration events here.
The Society of WCU is an organization of University faculty, staff, and administrators who embrace the spirit of Frederick Douglass’ commitment to social consciousness and inclusiveness. Their programs aim to stimulate other groups on campus to enrich our multicultural climate. The MLK Brunch is one way the Society raises money for scholarship funds.
Learn more at WCU. Enrolling more than 17,000 students, West Chester University is the largest institution in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. Founded in 1871, the University is a comprehensive public institution, offering a diverse range of more than 200 undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programs in more than 50 fields of study.
