Date: January 11, 2007
Contact: Lindsay Gladstone
Governors State University
Phone: (708) 534-7090
Fax: (708) 534 8399
Email: l-gladstone@govst.edu
For Immediate Release
University Park, January 11, 2007 - While Martin Luther King’s birthday has already been celebrated with a vacation day from school, more than 500 area elementary and middle school students will have the opportunity to celebrate Dr. King’s message and reaffirm his dreams at a program at Governors State University in University Park on January 22.
The program is designed to remind students of Dr. King’s message, goals, and achievements. The theme of this year’s program is “Are You Reaching for the Mountain Top?” The university’s Student Life Unit is sponsoring the program for area school children, university students and staff, and members of the community.
“We wanted to create a program that celebrates Dr. King’s life while reminding us of how much work needs to be done to reach the goals he established in his life,” said Sara Appel, Director of Student Involvement. “We wanted to mix the traditional with the interactive so everyone is involved; not just sitting and listening.
Darryl W. Dennard, co-host of the Black Enterprise Report, a weekly, syndicated television series, is the program’s special guest speaker. Dennard will focus on the importance of education and the need for innovation and invention. He will encourage the students to continue the work of Dr. King, to never abandon their own dreams, and to always work toward resolving the issues of inequality still prevalent today.
The program will also include audience participation and a special performance by magician David Shareef who will be talking about the Magic of Motivation.
“GSU is proud to present this program to school children and the community,” said Dr. Sherilyn Poole, Interim Dean for Student Co-Curricular Activities and Services. “Governors State is an active member of a community made up of many different people from different places and with different histories. This celebration is a way to come together and remember our common purpose to help and support each other.”
The program is from 10 to 11:30 a.m. in the Center for Performing Arts and is free and open to the public. Governors State University is located at 1 University Parkway, University Park. For more information, call (708) 534-4552.
