UCM to Honor MLK’s Legacy with Freedom Scholarships, Day of Service

By Nicole Lyons, January 17, 2025

From left, Max Ridenhour, chair of the Warrensburg Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors; Lover Chancler, Ph.D., director of UCM’s Center for
Multiculturalism and Inclusivity; Barbara Hill, Community Service Award recipient; Michelle and Steve Denton, parents of High School Community
Service Award recipient Emalie Denton; guest speaker Capt. Sha'Quan Clarke of the U.S. Air Force; and Suzanne Taylor, executive director of the Chamber.

 

Numerous activities are planned in January to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as part of the University of Central Missouri’s (UCM) 2025 MLK Celebration, with the theme “Living the Dream: Bringing Unity to the Community.”

The highlight of the university’s MLK Celebration is the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Scholarship Banquet, which will take place at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 21 in the Elliott Student Union Ballrooms. 

Guests will enjoy vocal and dance performances from UCM and community members, view works of art by local students inspired by Dr. King’s message, and watch the 2025 MLK Freedom Scholarships presentation. Heavy hors d’oeuvres will be served. Tickets are required, and all funds raised go directly to deserving UCM undergraduate students through Freedom Scholarships. This awards program began in 1999.

Other MLK Celebration events include the Community Praise and Worship Service at 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 19, at Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church, 212 N. Main St. in Warrensburg. The community is invited to attend this service in honor of Dr. King, whose faith was the foundation of his activism. Choirs and other local groups will perform.

UCM’s Center for Multiculturalism and Inclusivity will present the “Let’s Talk” discussion program at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 21 in its office on the third floor of the Elliott Student Union.

Campus and community members can visit the Volunteer Fair from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 22 in the Elliott Student Union atrium. Find volunteer and service opportunities with a variety of community partners.

UCM will host a Day of Service for the Warrensburg campus from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 23, and for the Lee's Summit campus from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, Jan. 24. Volunteer registration has closed.

The Missouri Innovation Campus in Lee’s Summit will host an MLK Celebration at 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 24. Awards will be presented to faculty and students along with the Lee’s Summit R-VII School District student winner of the MLK Art Contest. For more information, contact Rick Smetana at smetana@ucmo.edu.

The MLK Celebration concludes with a blood drive from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Jan. 27 and Tuesday, Jan. 28 in the Union Ballrooms. Appointments are preferred, but walk-ins will be accepted as time and staffing allow. Registration is available at savealifenow.org/group using code SZ.

The MLK Celebration began with the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Service Awards luncheon hosted by the Warrensburg Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, Jan. 15 at Northside Christian Church.

The awards, co-sponsored by the Warrensburg Chamber and the UCM Center for Multiculturalism and Inclusivity, honor community members who exemplify humanitarianism, leadership and selfless service. Warrensburg resident Barbara Hill received the Community Service Award, and Warrensburg High School (WHS) student Emalie Denton received the High School Community Service Award. 

Denton could not attend the luncheon as she is training for the Missouri Army National Guard. Her parents, Michelle and Steve, accepted the award on her behalf.

Hill is the student service coordinator at Maple Grove Elementary and works to get resources to minority, lower-income and marginalized families in Warrensburg. Under her leadership over the last four years, the Warrensburg R-6 School District’s Diversity and Equity in Education Committee has highlighted each school’s DEI effort, offered professional development opportunities and provided a platform for teachers to share grade-appropriate DEI curriculum.

Hill also supports the Warrensburg Diversity Dialogue group and helps coordinate the annual Community Connection Fair. In 2023, she helped the district receive a grant for homeless families and was instrumental in creating the new Resource Center for families.

Denton has completed countless hours of community service and led numerous projects. She coordinated with the high school administration, Warrensburg Police Department and Missouri State Highway Patrol to organize a traffic safety initiative, including additional road signs and a vehicle safety demonstration for WHS juniors and seniors before the 2024 Prom. She also helped the ProStart program obtain a Kids Feeding Kids grant, which provided 248 free hot meals to Warrensburg residents. 

Denton is a member and officer in several organizations, including Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), Student Council and DECA. 

Capt. Sha'Quan Clarke, of the U.S. Air Force and owner of Unruly Igzatiks, was the guest speaker. He said unity requires effort and stepping outside of one's comfort zone.

“It’s OK to celebrate our differences; ain’t nothing wrong with that. We have to use them to build something greater than ourselves,” Clarke said. “... Understanding is the foundation of unity. Let’s not just talk about unity, let’s live it. Let’s make an effort to reach out, connect and celebrate the stories that make us unique.”

For more information about the MLK Celebration, contact Lover Chancler, Ph.D., director of UCM’s Center for Multiculturalism and Inclusivity, at 660-543-8049 or chancler@ucmo.edu or visit ucmo.edu/mlk.

For more information about the Volunteer Fair, Day of Service or the blood drive, contact Kristie Brinkley, assistant director of Volunteer Services, at kbrinkley@ucmo.edu.