Martin Luther King, Jr. Award

As part of Valparaiso University’s annual celebration of the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., each year an award is made to the person(s) or organization(s) making significant and lasting contributions to continue to create an environment where diversity is honored and respected within the Valparaiso campus community.

Valparaiso University’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Award provides special recognition to individuals and groups on our campus who have lived Dr. King’s vision through their words and deeds.  This award is one more way to ensure that the message of Dr. King remains in the minds and hearts of our faculty, staff, and student body throughout the academic year and not just on the MLK, Jr. Day celebration on the third Monday in January.

In the fall, nominations will be sought for the award and a panel of five individuals, appointed by the MLK Day Steering Committee co-chairs, will evaluate the nominees considering their contributions to long-term positive impact or potential for such impact on the racial climate on campus and in the broader community, their commitment and service as a role model for valuing racial diversity on campus and in the broader community, and their enlistment of others in creative ways to improve the racial climate as well as to enhance campus diversity and diversity in the broader community.

Any current Valparaiso student, full or part-time Valparaiso faculty member, Valparaiso staff person, Valparaiso administrator, or Student Senate-recognized campus organization is eligible to be nominated for this award.  So keep the MLK Award in mind throughout the academic year as you go about campus living and learning, and make sure to nominate those who you feel, through their demonstrated contributions and commitment, deserve to win this award.