IEE Events

This event brings together the GovState Family, Community, Friends, Partners, and Civic Leaders to join us in commemorating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy.

Event Details

Date: Thursday, January 22
Time: 8:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Location: Center for Performing Arts

This year’s theme “Honoring Our History – Fighting for Our Future,” resonates deeply as we remember the past. Our history calls us action. It urges us to confront injustice, protect our communities, and continue the fight for equality and freedom so their sacrifice propels us toward a more just future.

Agenda

• • 8 a.m. Registration
• • 8:30 a.m. Breakfast Reception
• • 9:30 a.m. Program Begins

Schedule of Events

• • Dramatic Performance “We Were Just Children” by Lauren Wells-Mann and Andrew Malone
• ‣ The reenactment of the story of the four little girls killed in the 1963 Birmingham church bombing serves as a powerful reminder of the tragic cost of hatred and the resilience of the human spirit. The innocence, lost in an act meant to silence progress, instead ignited a movement that reshaped our nation.
• • GovState Transformation Gospel Choir
• • Dr. Uday Shinde
• ‣ Dr. Uday Shinde is a respected leader and full professor at Governors State University. Dr. Shinde inspires with his commitment to ethics, social responsibility, and inclusive leadership – values that honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
• • Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Through Scholarship
• ‣ The annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Writing Contest invites students to honor Dr. King’s legacy through the power of their own words. Finalists were challenged to write a poem, letter, or academic essay reflecting on this year’s theme. This contest embodies Dr. King’s belief that language is a tool for truth, justice, and transformation.

Contest Guidelines

Choose one of the three prompts below. Email your submission in a format compatible with Apple or Mac platforms, preferably as a Word document. Include a cover page with your submission.

Dr. King’s legacy inspires this year’s theme: “Honoring our History- Fighting for Our Future.”

Choose one of the following prompts based on the theme:

• • Poetry: Write a poem exploring the 2026 theme or of Dr. King’s legacy. This poem should not be more than two pages.
• • Open Letter: Considering the 2026 theme, if you could speak to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. directly about the state of the United States today, what would you want him to know? How have we succeeded or failed to work toward his dream of equality? Where do you find hope? What are the challenges we face? This letter should be 400–800 words in standard MLA format.
• • Academic Essay: Considering the 2026 theme, where do you see Dr. King’s vision at work in our world today? Give specific examples of people, communities, and/or organizations who are working to realize King’s dream of a just and equal nation. Be sure to support your ideas with evidence and include a Works Cited. This essay should be 400 - 800 words in standard MLA format.

Contest Details

Winning entries will be announced at GovState’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast on Thursday, January 22, 2026, and shared in print format with the attendees. Please note that you will need to give your permission for your work to be printed. You will indicate this on the cover page you submit with your writing.

Note: If your submission is chosen for an award, you will be notified in advance and expected to attend the event to receive your award.

Prizes

• • 1st Place: $250
• • 2nd Place: $150
• • 3rd Place: $100

Deadline

Email submission and cover page to oiee@govst.edu by Thursday, December 11, 2025