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VERNON A. WALL
Photo by: Patrick Gouran
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FSU celebrates the dreams of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
During the week of Jan. 14 through Jan. 21, Florida State University will hold its 20th annual celebration to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in a weeklong event including leadership workshops, artistic performances, a commemorative march and a community service project.
FSU will kick off the celebration, "His Dream... Our Mission," at 6 p.m. in the Oglesby Union State Ballroom on Monday, Jan. 14, with the "Knowledge is King" Academic Bowl in which participants will test their knowledge of civil rights issues.
"Our hope is that participants attending the 20th anniversary of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Celebration come away with a message of inspiration and hope for the Florida State and local communities," said Juan Guardia, FSU's director of Multicultural Affairs.
A Dinner Dialogue with keynote speaker Vernon Wall, a renowned author, lecturer, and senior consultant with Washington Consulting Group, will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 15, from 7:30 to 9 p.m. in the Oglesby Union.
Scholar workshops will begin on Wednesday, Jan. 16, in the Oglesby Union ballrooms at 8 a.m. Around 10 a.m. the FSU chapter of NAACP will lead a simulated civil rights march starting at the Integration Statue and concluding at the Westcott Building.
A celebratory program in Ruby Diamond Auditorium will start at 11 a.m., followed by a reception at 1 p.m. in the Werkmeister Room of Dodd Hall. Wall will deliver the keynote address. The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Distinguished Service Award will be given to the nominee who exemplifies outstanding service in keeping with the principles and ideals of King. The award includes a $1,000 stipend.
Six Martin Luther King Jr. Book Stipend Awards will be given to students by the Black Alumni Association and the Office of Vice President for Student Affairs.
Other events include "The Conscious Awakening... An Evening of Artistic Expression" on Thursday, Jan. 17 from 7 to 9 p.m in Oglesby Union State Ballroom, and "Art in Low Places" from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, Jan. 18, in the Oglesby Union Courtyard.
This year's community service project is the construction of a playground for Florida State University Elementary School in Southwood from Jan. 18 through 21.
Guardia said FSU is very excited about having Wall as the keynote speaker. "We feel that his message resonates with Dr. King's vision to advocate for change and live in a just society."
Wall has more than 20 years of experience in a variety of student affairs roles at Iowa State University, the University of Georgia, UNC-Charlotte and UNC-Chapel Hill, including Greek life, new student orientation, student activities, leadership development, global education and university housing.
He earned his bachelor of arts in political science from North Carolina State University and his master's degree in College Student Personnel Administration from Indiana University.
He served as a member of the Student Life Staff with the Semester at Sea program in 1998, accompanying 600 students on a voyage around the world, and has actively served on the Executive Council of the American College Personnel Association.
For his outstanding contributions to the field of student affairs, Wall was the 2000 Diamond Honoree Recipient.
He is one of the founders and facilitators of the Social Justice Training Institute, and has served as a trainer for the Martin Luther King Center for Non-Violent Social Change in Atlanta, Ga.
Thousands of students, faculty and staff nationally have heard his award-winning programs and presentations regarding social justice and leadership styles. In addition, Wall has written several articles and has co-edited two books on issues of inclusion on college campuses.
Members of the community are encouraged to join in the celebration. All events, except the scholar workshops and Dinner Dialogue, are free and open to the public.
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