Thank you to everyone who attended the historic 40th Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration! Enjoy the scrolling photo gallery below!
MLK 2025 Photo Gallery
SOLD OUT! Important Information for Attendees of the MLK Celebration 2025
The Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration
Sunday, Jan. 26
Doors open at 4:15 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
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.
Announcing the 2025 Unsung Hero Awardees
The 40th Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Planning Committee is proud to announce the 2025 Unsung Hero Award winners: Andrea-Rose Oates ’26, James K. Duah-Agyeman G’99, Student Coalition on Race and Equity (SCORE), Laurence Segal and Jamie Jackson (posthumously).
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 40th Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration on Sunday, Jan. 26, featuring keynote speaker Sarah Willie-LeBreton, president of Smith College.
The Unsung Heroes are:
Andrea-Rose Oates ’26 (Syracuse University student)
Oates, a public relations major in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and policy studies major in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and College of Arts and Sciences, has dedicated her life to community service, leadership and social justice. She is the president and founder of “Girlz Rize,” a nonprofit initiative focused on fighting for girls’ education opportunities.
Through her work last summer with NBCUniversal, Oates amplified underrepresented voices by highlighting community challenges and successes. Her summer internships with Comcast and Hilco Redevelopment Partners demonstrated her ability to translate corporate resources into meaningful community outreach.
Oates’ leadership roles at Syracuse have included serving as president of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority’s Iota Upsilon chapter; co-secretary for the Black Student Union; events chair for the Women in Communications Club; a member of the Newhouse Student Representative Committee and an account associate for Hill Communications. She is dedicated to fostering inclusive, collaborative spaces that inspire academic and social growth and sustainable, generational change.
“Andrea-Rose doesn’t merely identify problems; she acts, empowering others to take part in solutions,” says nominator Diya Gupta. “Her actions reflect Dr. King’s enduring call to serve others and create a world where equity and justice prevail.”
James Duah-Agyeman G’99 (Syracuse University Faculty/Staff)
Duah-Agyeman, former director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs and special advisor to the Men of Color Initiative, has a 38-year record of achievement at Syracuse University—as a graduate student, teacher, academic counselor, administrator and leader.
“There are many who talk the talk of service, inclusion and integrity, but in the context of engagement with the world, Dr. D has walked the walk again and again,” says nominator Barry L. Wells. “In the process, he has set a powerful example for students, faculty, staff, and community members in how one person can make a significant difference in the development and expansion of a community that values service and inclusion.”
Duah-Agyeman most recently led Multicultural Affairs in developing programs to advance inclusion on the SU campus by creating best-in-class programs like the WellsLink Leadership Program; Dimensions, a peer mentoring program for women of color; and the Men of Color Initiative. He was instrumental in piloting and introducing the Conversations About Race and Ethnicity (C.A.R.E.) intergroup dialogue programs on campus. He also advocated for inclusion through his community work with Interfaith Works of Central New York and the Ghana Society of CNY.
Student Coalition on Race and Equity (SCORE) (Youth Community Organization)
The Student Coalition on Race and Equity (SCORE) was launched in 2020, after the murder of George Floyd. SCORE harnesses the talent and leadership skills of high school students across Onondaga County to combat oppression and foster equity. It empowers youth, known as SCORE leaders, to educate adults on topics related to race and equity, sharing insights from their unique perspectives as young people.
After completing five weeks of training in equity-based topics and being equipped with the skills necessary to facilitate interactive workshops, SCORE Leaders take on the role of educators, leading workshop sessions for community stakeholders each August. SCORE has provided workshops on implicit bias and Black history to almost 3,000 community members.
“SCORE is a powerful program that not only centers and draws from the creativity and expertise of youth, but it also engages youth in meaningfully powerful professional experience,” says nominator Jenny Dombroske. “Our community is fortunate to have this access to the insights of youth and the opportunity to learn some of the hardest lessons from them, so that we may contribute to the future that they want for themselves.”
Laurence Segal (Community Member)
Segal quietly fights every single day for cancer patients, people experiencing homelessness, the downtrodden and people the rest of society cast aside, says his brother and nominator, Andrew Segal.
Laurence has been known to stop his car and help stranded motorists, using his own AAA card to help them. Through his organization, Bottles for a Cure, he has returned millions of bottles and cans for cancer patients and research and pulled millions of pop tabs for the Ronald McDonald House of CNY. He hosts multiple blood drives every month that impact thousands of people, and he constantly strives to make the world a better place.
This summer, Segal cleaned up trash on city streets and passed out hot meals, cold drinks, sanitizers, masks and first aid kits to the homeless. He has spent countless hours with cancer patients holding their hands while they go through chemotherapy, radiation and long hospital stays.
“He makes a difference constantly, but just chooses to keep it silent,” Andrew Segal says. “He is the gem of our family, and a gem in CNY.”
Jamie Jackson (Special Posthumous Recognition)
Jackson, a longtime employee with Syracuse University’s Parking and Transportation Services, was in a unique position to connect with almost every person on campus for over 20 years. He was assigned to the Quad lot outside Hendricks Chapel, where he offered assistance to campus visitors and befriended many members of the campus community. Jackson passed away unexpectedly in September 2024.
He was a graduate of Onondaga Community College and a U.S. Navy and U.S. Army veteran. In his obituary, he was remembered as a “wonderful son, beloved husband, fantastic father, a devoted veteran, terrific brother, great friend, kind uncle, good outdoorsman, strong record keeper and avid sports fan.”
Dara Harper, communications director at Hendricks Chapel, got to know Jackson well.
“In my opinion, Jamie’s role on campus was utterly unsung. He, a veteran, a dad, a confidante, a judge, a quiet and constant friend, touched every person on campus,” she says. “To tell you that he was the parking attendant limits his story to a singular piece of who he was. And for many of us, he is still just right outside.”
Jackson’s loss is felt every day on the University campus. “Jamie embodied the kindness, fortitude and patience that we all should strive for in this world,” says Harper. “He was a GOOD man, which is just the simplest way of saying that he was a hero.”
This Year’s Emcee, Sean Dorcellus, Featured on Inspiration for the Nation
This year, we are excited to welcome Syracuse University alumnus, Sean Dorcellus ’21, as the emcee for the 40th Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration. Sean, a graduate of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, was interviewed by George Kilpatrick ’81, G’95!
About Sean
Sean Dorcellus ’21 is a digital host and reporter for Syracuse University Athletics. He is a graduate of SU’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. As a student, Dorcellus served as the student co-chair of the 36th Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration at Syracuse University.
Dorcellus has worked on NBC Sports’ production team for two Olympic Games—the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, and the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. Dorcellus previously worked for the Brooklyn Nets, where he became one of the youngest team employees in NBA history to spearhead the programming of an organization’s MLK Day celebration. He later joined LeBron James’ sports media company, Uninterrupted, where he produced a variety of athlete-focused storytelling.
Professor Rochele Royster Featured on Inspiration for the Nation
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 Historic 40th Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration
Sarah Willie-LeBreton, President Of Smith College, To Speak At Historic 40th Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration
BUY TICKETS:
- Syracuse University staff, faculty, and the general public (dinner and program): $40
- Students (dinner and program): $204:30 P.M. Doors open
5-6 P.M. Dinner buffet
6:15 P.M. Program begins
7:30 P.M. Program concludes
See below for additional ticket information!
Sarah Willie-LeBreton, the 12th president of Smith College and daughter of Syracuse University’s first Black full professor, department chair, and vice president, Charles Willie G’57, H’92, will serve as featured speaker for the 40th Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025, in the JMA Wireless Dome at Syracuse University.
This year’s theme is: “Living History.”
Tickets are now available. Due to a special 40th anniversary combined dinner program setting, guests are encouraged to reserve their tables and seats as soon as possible.
This 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.
“Forty is a special number, and forty years is a special commitment. We are honored to welcome President Sarah Willie-LeBreton as our featured speaker for this historic 40th anniversary celebration,” says the Rev. Brian Konkol, vice president and dean of Hendricks Chapel. “Through her remarkable impact built through years of dedicated service, President Willie-LeBreton honors her father’s legacy by creating a legacy of her own, and she inspires us all to spark and sustain a better world.”
Sarah Willie-LeBreton, Ph.D. is the 12th president of Smith College. An accomplished administrator, scholar, and sociologist who studies social inequality and race & ethnicity, Willie-LeBreton is known for her commitment to the liberal arts, strengthening community, and energizing the work of equity and inclusion.
Willie-LeBreton earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Haverford College in 1986, and an M.A. (1988) and Ph.D. (1995) from Northwestern University, all in sociology. After having taught at Colby College (1991–1995) and Bard College (1995–1997) in tenure-track appointments, she was tenured at Swarthmore College, where she served as coordinator of the Black Studies Program and chair of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology for a total of 17 years. She was appointed as provost and dean of the faculty at Swarthmore in2018 and served in that role until 2023.
President Willie-LeBreton currently serves on the boards of the Grand Canyon Conservancy, the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities in Massachusetts, and the Consortium on Financing Higher Education. She is a member of and has been active in the Eastern Sociological Society, Sociologists for Women in Society, the Association of Black Sociologists, and the American Sociological Association (ASA). For several years, she reviewed sociology and affiliated departments as a member of the ASA’s Departmental Resources Group.
Willie-LeBreton follows in the footsteps of her father, the late Charles Willie G’57, H’92, who came to Syracuse University in 1950 as a graduate student and teaching assistant in sociology. He later earned his doctorate in 1957 from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. When he was appointed chair of the sociology department in 1967, he became the first Black department chair in Syracuse University history and later, the first Black full professor. He served as vice president for student affairs from 1972-74, becoming the University’s first Black vice president. A graduate and class president of the Morehouse College class of 1948, Willie’s legacy will forever be tied to his classmate Martin Luther King Jr., whom he recruited to the Syracuse University campus to speak in 1961 and 1965.
Our 2025 program marks the 40th year for the MLK Celebration at Syracuse University, which will include an address from Willie-LeBreton, 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. This year all guests will remain at the tables for the program.
Ticket purchase options are as follows:
- Syracuse University staff, faculty, and the general public (dinner and program): $40
- Students (dinner and program): $20
Click here for general tickets and here for student tickets.
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 four.
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.
MLK Art Gallery Artist Melquea Smith on Inspiration for the Nation
Unsung Hero Elbethel Berhane on Inspiration for the Nation
2024 MLK Unsung Heroes Announced
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.
How Meeting Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Influenced Rick Wright G’93 and Inspired His Broadcasting Career
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!