Due to forecasted severe weather conditions, including significant snow accumulation and dangerously cold temperatures, we have made the difficult decision to cancel Sunday’s 41st Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration. New York State has declared a state of emergency in response to these conditions.
We do not make this decision lightly and recognize how meaningful this annual gathering is for our campus, the city of Syracuse and Central New York. However, the safety and well-being of our community is our first priority. We will provide additional information next week about rescheduling the event or processing refunds.
Thank you for your understanding. Please stay warm and safe, and know that we look forward to gathering together soon to honor Dr. King’s extraordinary legacy.
The 41st Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Planning Committee has announced the 2026 Unsung Hero Award winners: Jamie Sterling ’26, Eman Tadros, Pass Da R.O.C.K and Bettie Graham.
The Unsung Hero Award is given to community members, students, faculty and staff who have made a positive impact on the lives of others but are not widely recognized for their contributions. The awards were created to honor Dr. King’s vision of creating positive change in a troubled world.
The award winners will be recognized at the 41st Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration on Sunday, Jan. 25, in the JMA Wireless Dome, featuring keynote speaker Sharon Owens ’85, mayor of the City of Syracuse. Tickets for the celebration are available on the MLK Celebration website.
The Unsung Heroes are the following:
Jamie Sterling ’26: Building Bridges Through Leadership
Jamie Sterling ’26
Sterling, an accounting major in the Martin J. Whitman School of Management, exemplifies leadership through his tireless work uplifting students across campus. As president of the Alpha Omicron chapter of Alpha Kappa Psi Professional Business Fraternity Inc. and sergeant at arms of the Distinguished Delta Zeta Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., the same organization Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. proudly served.
Sterling leads with humility, strengthening his organizations through inclusive decision-making and genuine care for each member’s growth.
His influence extends beyond Greek life. As senior advisor for the Black and Latinx Information Science and Technology Society, and through his involvement with the National Association of Black Accountants and Association of Latino Professionals for America, Sterling creates culturally affirming spaces and connects students to vital professional opportunities.
As a first-generation college student balancing academic excellence with community service, Sterling mirrors King’s vision of the “beloved community.” His contributions often occur behind the scenes—mentoring peers, volunteering locally and opening pathways for those who follow. Sterling embodies King’s conviction that true leadership is measured not by recognition but by impact, transforming lives through consistent, purposeful service.
Eman Tadros: Healing Families, Honoring King’s Dream
Eman Tadros
Eman Tadros, assistant professor of human development and family science in the College of Arts and Sciences, exemplifies King’s vision through her transformative work with incarcerated families and marginalized communities. As a first-generation Cuban and Jordanian scholar and licensed marriage and family therapist, she centers voices often silenced, conducting research that illuminates pathways for healing and reconnection among justice-involved families.
Tadros has testified before state legislatures, advocated on Capitol Hill for Medicare access for marriage and family therapists, and serves on the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration’s Minority Fellowship Program Advisory Committee. In the classroom, she amplifies diverse perspectives and equips future advocates to serve with compassion and integrity.
With 167 peer-reviewed publications and extensive policy work, Tadros translates scholarship into meaningful support for overlooked populations. Her humble yet impactful leadership embodies King’s belief that education liberates and that justice requires everyday courage.
Pass Da R.O.C.K.: Building Dreams Beyond the Court
Pass Da R.O.C.K. embodies the quiet heroism King envisioned—tireless work that transforms communities without seeking headlines. In neighborhoods where opportunities are scarce and institutional support limited, this organization shows up consistently, demonstrating the active love King taught was essential to social change.
Members of Pass Da R.O.C.K. strategize during a basketball game.
Pass Da R.O.C.K. meets youth and families where they are, honoring their dignity and agency rather than imposing solutions from above. Through school-based partnerships improving behavior, attendance and academics, life empowerment programs introducing real-world career paths, and a travel basketball program broadening horizons beyond neighborhood boundaries, they create tangible pathways to success.
This grassroots approach reflects King’s vision of beloved community—democratic, inclusive, rooted in listening. The young leaders they nurture are becoming agents of change themselves, learning that service is a calling and their gifts belong to something greater.
Bettie Graham: A Quiet Force for Justice
Bettie Graham
For decades, Graham has embodied King’s vision that “everybody can be great because everybody can serve.” As founder and director of The Determination Center in Syracuse, she has created a safe haven where at-risk youth discover their worth, capability and power.
With a master’s degree in counseling and deep expertise in trauma-informed care, Graham transforms lives through academic support, mentoring and life-skills training that help young people resolve conflict peacefully and navigate systems that often overlook them.
Her servant leadership is profound yet humble—first to arrive, last to leave, quietly sweeping floors after everyone goes home. She leads with the moral courage King championed, becoming the trusted adult families call in crisis and youth confide their deepest worries to. Graham works not for recognition but because it is “the right thing to do.”
Through her steadfast commitment, she proves that ordinary people, grounded in love and justice, can transform communities. Her legacy lives in generations of young people who now know they are worthy of their dreams.
City of Syracuse Mayor Sharon Owens ’85 will serve as the featured speaker for the 41st Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in the JMA Wireless Dome at Syracuse University. This year’s theme is “The Dream Lives Here.”
Tickets are now available. Due to limited seating, guests are encouraged to reserve their tables and seats as soon as possible.
The annual event is known as the largest of its kind on any college campus. The dinner program seeks to honor the life and legacy of a leader who brings hope and healing to our world and is a direct expression of Syracuse University’s commitment to advancing academic excellence at a university welcoming to all.
“Dr. King’s dream truly does live here—and it continues to guide us. As we mark the 41st Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration, we are honored to welcome Mayor Sharon Owens as our keynote speaker,” says Alison Murray, assistant dean for student assistance at Hendricks Chapel and this year’s MLK Celebration chairperson. “Her historic election as Syracuse’s first Black mayor affirms that Dr. King’s dream is alive and thriving in our community. We invite everyone to join us as we honor his legacy and recommit to making that dream a reality.”
Owens was sworn into office on Jan. 3, 2026. Owens, originally from Geneva, New York, studied economics at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and was an avid athlete on the women’s track and field team. Since graduating from the University, Owens carved her path in Syracuse as an advocate for community members, holding positions at several well-known nonprofits, including PEACE, Inc., Jubilee Homes, Home Headquarters and Syracuse Community Connections at the Southwest Community Center.
Mayor Owens joined the City of Syracuse staff in 2010 as the deputy commissioner for neighborhood and business development. She was later appointed by then Mayor Ben Walsh as the deputy mayor, overseeing the city’s Neighborhood and Business Development committee and the police and fire departments.
Owens was elected mayor by a landslide, gaining 73.8% of the vote. Her win and tenure set the stage for her speech at Syracuse University with the theme, “The Dream Lives Here.”
“I am honored and excited to serve as the featured speaker for the 41st Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration,” Owens says. “This event is a powerful opportunity to reflect on Dr. King’s enduring legacy and recommit ourselves to the principles of justice, equality and unity that he championed.”
Along with Owens’ address, the 2026 program will include student and community group performances and a presentation of this year’s Unsung Hero Awards.
Dinner buffets will open at 5 p.m. and will be held near the JMA Dome’s west end zone. Guests can enter the Courtside Lounge and Suites entrance located between Gates A and B. Halal, kosher, gluten-free and vegetarian options will be available. All guests will remain at the tables for the program.
All tickets will be assigned a table number at the time of purchase, which will be included in the mobile tickets. Guests interested in sitting with friends are recommended to purchase tickets together to ensure the same table assignment.
Guests may order up to eight (8) dinner and program tickets online. To purchase one full table (eight seats), select eight (8) total tickets and proceed to checkout. To purchase more than one table or more than eight individual tickets, or if experiencing difficulties, please call the JMA Dome Box Office at 1.888.DOME.TIX (315.443.2121), option two.
Buy tickets online at mlk.syr.edu, in person at the Dome Box Office inside Gate B at 900 Irving Ave. (Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) or by phone (888.DOME.TIX or 315.443.2121, option two). Tickets will be mobile this year and uploaded directly to your MyCuse account to manage upon purchase. View the step-by-step guide on mobile ticketing for more information.
Free parking is available in the Irving Avenue Garage, the Raynor Lot, Henry Lot and the Standart Lot. American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation, AIRA and Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) will be available for the event.
For more information about the MLK Celebration or to request accommodations, contact Hendricks Chapel at chapel@syr.edu or 315.443.2901. Learn more about this and other Hendricks Chapel events by visiting chapel.syracuse.edu
Please read the info below, especially if you are buying a table, or two!
The speaker announcement will come soon, but you don’t have to wait! Buy your tickets now to make sure you don’t miss the traditional MLK Celebration meal, a variety of entertainers and a dynamic keynote speech!
The Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026 Doors open at 4:30 P.M. Dinner buffet is open from 5-6 P.M. Formal program begins at 6:15 P.M. JMA Wireless Dome at Syracuse University
Dinner buffets will open at 5 p.m. and will be held near the JMA Dome’s west end zone. Guests can enter the “Courtside Lounge and Suites” entrance located between Gates A and B. Halal, Kosher, gluten-free and vegetarian options will be available. This year all guests will remain at the tables for the program.
All tickets will be assigned a table number at the time of purchase, which will be included in the mobile tickets. Guests interested in sitting with friends are recommended to purchase tickets together to ensure the same table assignment.
Guests may order up to 8 dinner and program tickets online. To purchase one full table (8 seats), select 8 total tickets and proceed to checkout. To purchase more than one table or more than 8 individual tickets, or if experiencing difficulties, please call the JMA Dome Box Office at 1.888.DOME.TIX (315.443.2121), option two.
Buy tickets online at mlk.syr.edu, in person at the Dome Box Office inside Gate B at 900 Irving Ave. (Monday through Friday 8:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M.) or by phone (888.DOME.TIX or 315.443.2121, option four). Tickets will be mobile this year and uploaded directly to your MyCuse account to manage upon purchase. View the step-by-step guide on mobile ticketing for more information.
Free parking is available in the Irving Avenue Garage, the Raynor Lot, Henry Lot and the Standart Lot. American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation, AIRA and Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) will be available for the event.
For more information about the MLK Celebration or to request accommodations, contact Hendricks Chapel at chapel@syr.edu or 315.443.2901. Learn more about this and other Hendricks Chapel events by visiting chapel.syracuse.edu.
MOBILE TICKETS Your tickets are available to manage on your MyCuse Account using your mobile phone.
PARKING Free parking is available in the following Dome West Lot locations, please click the Waze links below for real-time wayfinding to the lots:
Shuttles: Complimentary shuttles to the Dome are available near the WEST lots and Irving Garage. Please see pick-up and drop-off locations marked by the S on the map.
Accessible Parking: Accessible parking is available on the 5th floor of Irving Avenue Garage, with an accessible entrance to the Dome via the skybridge at Gate C. An accessible drop-off location is available near the VIP/Suite Entrance located on Forestry Drive between Gates A and B at the Dome. Guests may also use the complimentary, accessible shuttle available near the West Lots and Irving Garage.
ENTER THE DOME
All guests will enter between Gates A and B at the VIP entrance on Forestry Drive.
ACCESSIBILITY
American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation and Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) will be available for the event. Accessible seating is provided on the concourse level of the JMA Wireless Dome.
ATTIRE All are welcome, regardless of clothing choice! Some will choose to dress up, some will be in business casual clothing, and some in jeans. Again, all are welcome!
For more information about the MLK Celebration or to request accommodations, contact Hendricks Chapel at chapel@syr.edu or 315.443.2901. Learn more about this and other Hendricks Chapel events by visiting chapel.syracuse.edu.
Syracuse University’s 41st Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration will be held on Sunday, January 25, 2026 at the JMA Wireless Dome. Please check back for ticket and celebration updates!
Listen in as George Kilpatrick interviews Professor Royster about art therapy and her role with the Moving Quilt Art Experience which will debut at the 40th Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration. You can buy tickets here!
The 39th Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Planning Committee is proud to announce the 2024 Unsung Hero Award winners: Murjan Abdi, Sharon Dotger, Elbethel Berhane and Mia-Marie Fields ’24.
The Unsung Hero Award is given to community members, students, faculty and staff who have made a positive impact on the lives of others but are not widely recognized for their contributions. The awards were created to honor Dr. King’s vision of creating positive change in a troubled world. There were a record number of nominations for this year’s award.
The award winners will be recognized at the 39th Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration. The 2024 celebration will be held on Sunday, Jan. 21, with the art gallery opening at 4:15 p.m., dinner at 5 p.m., and the event at 7 p.m. featuring keynote speaker Talithia Williams. Tickets for the celebration are available on the MLK Celebration website.
The Unsung Heroes are:
Sharon Dotger (Syracuse University faculty)
Dotger is the faculty director of teacher education and undergraduate studies in the School of Education. Over the past year, she has been tasked with redesigning the teacher education program, ensuring that preservice teachers are equipped with the skills, knowledge and compassion necessary to both enter the workforce and thrive in it. This shift will ensure that graduates of the University’s education programs are prepared to work alongside students with disabilities in schools across the nation, bringing the world closer to full inclusion.
Mia-Marie Fields ’24(Syracuse University student)
Fields, majoring in biomedical engineering in the College of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS), exemplifies the values of scholarship, service, social justice and inclusion. In her time at Syracuse University, she has helped to develop a portable breast cancer detection device addressing healthcare inequities in resource-limited countries; assisted in updating the Dean’s Advisory Panel in ECS; worked with a team to re-design the interior of 119 Euclid; and introduced Kevin Richardson of the “Exonerated 5” at the Black Excellence Gala. Fields is known to be both selfless and humble in her many pursuits.
Elbethel Berhane (Community youth)
Currently a senior at Jamesville-DeWitt High School, Berhane began her work with the Umoja/Kente Club as a first-year student and has continued her service by becoming the co-student advisor in her senior year. Last summer, she became certified and trained through the Student Coalition on Race and Equity, an initiative that accesses the talent and skills of students to eliminate racism in their community, starting in their school district. She currently works with People In Action and teaches Bible stories and lessons in the Amharic language to elementary school children at the Ethiopian Orthodox Church in Baldwinsville, New York.
Murjan Abdi (Community member)
A dedicated leader, Abdi uplifts his community with tremendous commitment. A proud graduate of the Syracuse City School District, he joined the Manufacturers Association of Central New York (MACNY), serving in the field of workforce development. Prior to his work at MACNY, Murjan was an integral part of Onondaga Community College, significantly impacting the Educational Opportunity Program and the Collegiate Science Technical Entry Program. As a former peer financial mentor at CNY Works, Murjan’s unique ability to connect with young people catalyzed positive transformations in Syracuse. His commitment to community development inspires hope for a more inclusive future in Syracuse.
Roosevelt “Rick” Wright G’93 had a front-row seat as the Civil Rights Movement took off across the American South in the late 1950s and early 1960s, participating in the sit-ins and demonstrations while coming face-to-face with police dogs and fire hoses in Elizabeth City, North Carolina.
At the heart of the movement were the non-violent, civil disobedience teachings of the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the civil rights leader who inspired Black citizens around the country to speak out and stand up for their constitutional rights.
Read more in the link below and listen to the podcast!
