The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration will take place at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 5 in the Morris University Center Meridian Ballroom. During the luncheon event, the MLK Humanitarian and Scholarship awards will take place. This year’s scholarship recipient is East St. Louis native and SIUE student Demetrius Coleman.
“Each year the campus community, as well as the community at large, plays a vital role in celebrating the life of the late Dr. King,” said Sarah Laux, assistant director, civic engagement, through SIUE’s Kimmel Leadership Center. “The honorees at this event exhibit his true humanitarian spirit in the things they do, and the lives they touch.”
Dr. Ed Hightower, SIU Board of Trustees vice president and superintendent of Edwardsville schools, will provide the welcome remarks. He and SIUE Chancellor Julie Furst-Bowe will introduce the award recipients:
• Coleman, a senior majoring in English language and literature through the SIUE College of Arts and Sciences. Coleman is the recipient of the MLK Humanitarian Scholarship Award. As a resident assistant, he has used his conflict resolution skills to mediate students with differing opinions and backgrounds through SIUE University Housing. He also has served in numerous volunteer positions improving the lives of others throughout the community.
• Charlotte E. Johnson, of Alton, a retired educator known as “the keeper of stories,” is the recipient of the MLK Community Humanitarian Award. She works closely with the Alton Section of the National Council of Negro Women, Inc. and the Hayner Public Library District. She was described by nominators as a “tireless volunteer” who has “dedicated her life to preserving history and educating everyone she runs into about the past.”
• Dr. Aminata Cairo, assistant professor of anthropology at SIUE, who was described by one of her nominators as “consistently challenging her students to address their personal ideals about culture and cultural sensitivity.” Cairo is the recipient of the MLK Faculty/Staff Humanitarian Award.
• Sophia Rotman, a senior at Clayton High School, is the high school essay award recipient.
• Allison Federer, a junior at Villa Duchesne High School, is the high school poetry award recipient.
• Andrew Bruce, a senior at Belleville West High School, is the high school visual arts award recipient.
As part of the event, members of the SIUE’s Black Theater Workshop, the SIUE East St. Louis Charter High School and the SIUE Flute Quartet will perform.