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Honoring the Life and Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
VWU senior India Khanna receives Mavis McKenley '11 Award during virtual ceremony on January 18
University News | January 18, 2021
As the nation honored the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.— one of integrity, service, leadership, and unity, along with an inspiring commitment to social justice—Virginia Wesleyan, too, celebrated Dr. King’s life with a virtual commemoration ceremony in the Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center on January 18.
The event began with welcome remarks from VWU President Scott D. Miller and acknowledgement of the recent naming of the Mavis McKenley ’11 Award, a recognition given annually to a student who practices the ideals set forth by Dr. King—courage and conviction in valuing differences, commitment to seeing beyond borders by building inclusion, compassion for humanity, and/or commitment to social change. Dr. Miller presented a commemorative plaque to McKenley, who then shared her hopes for the award winner.
“This is my wish for our young recipient today,” she said, “that they know they are as good as anyone else and that they continue to feel comfortable putting themself in uncomfortable situations so their voice can be heard, and that they have a sense of ‘somebodiness.’ In this moment we must continue to recognize our young leaders that exhibit courage, compassion and the commitment to piece back together our fraying social contract. Dr. Martin Luther King is within all of us. Let’s keep walking forward.”
This year’s award was presented to VWU senior India Khanna, who is known for her civic activism and inclusion efforts on campus in organizations such as Spectrum, the Student Diversity Board, the Caribbean Student Association, Black Student Union, Debate, Planned Parenthood Generation Action, and the Presidents Council for Inclusive Communities.
The ceremony featured two speakers. Dr. La Francis Rodgers-Rose—founder and CEO of the International Black Women’s Congress, a clinical sociologist, professor, community leader, consultant and author—presented “Then and Now: The Redemptive Morality and Radical Practices of Martin Luther King Jr." Rev. Dr. Melvin T. Blackwell, Senior Pastor of the Little Zion Baptist Church in Smithfield, discussed how Coastal Virginians can live and promote the ideals of Dr. King in the region.
Watch the ceremony on the VWU Digital Broadcasting Network.