Unsung Hero Award

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

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, 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.

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

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.