The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., through his writings and his speeches, challenged all of us to find the courage to create positive change in a troubled world. He taught us the importance of listening to and learning from others. He shared his dream, offering a glimpse of what was possible. He inspired generations to chart a course of action, to have real impact. Every year at the MLK Celebration, a group of Unsung Heroes is honored by Syracuse University for their selfless dedication to their community and for embodying the vision of Dr. King.
Nominations for the 2023 Unsung Hero Awards are now open and are due at 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022.
The Unsung Hero Awards are presented annually to people who, in the spirit of King’s “beloved community,” have made a positive difference in the lives of others, but who are not widely recognized for their efforts. To be eligible for this award, nominees should not have received widespread recognition or been previously honored for their efforts, and their work should be ongoing and outside their normal job/student expectations.
Nominations may be made in any of the following categories:
- youth/teen from Onondaga, Madison, Oswego, Cayuga or Cortland counties
- adult from Onondaga, Madison, Oswego, Cayuga or Cortland counties
- student at Syracuse University or SUNY-ESF
- faculty or staff from Syracuse University or SUNY-ESF
For questions regarding Unsung Hero Awards, please contact Hendricks Chapel at chapel@syr.edu.
View previous Unsung Hero Award winners on our webpage.
