The statement on the back of the program for Michigan Technological University’s Martin Luther King Day celebration Monday exhorted people to think about how they would live up to King’s vision.

The thread continued through Monday’s events, which included a MLK Day brunch, interfaith prayer vigil and a peace march.

“When I look across the room, I see so many of you that have committed your time here at Michigan Tech to help our institution realize the dream that Dr. King had,” President Rick Koubek said at the brunch. “…We all have to know that that’s a dream that’s yet to be realized, in my opinion. But it’s a dream that’s worthy of all our attention and energy. And so my request to you as your university president is to continue to press forward and lean forward and helping our institution be an example of what that dream could look like that Dr. King had for us all.”

Jaylyn Boone, a 2018 Tech graduate and keynote speaker at Monday’s brunch, laid out four steps to living King’s dream.

Garrett Neese/Daily Mining Gazette Jacek Borysow, interim department chair of physics at Michigan Technological University, gives his acceptance speech after receiving the Bayard Rustin Award Monday from Tech’s chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers. The award, named for the influential civil rights activist and advisor to civil rights leaders, honors Michigan Tech faculty or staff member for their behind-the-scenes contributions.

People had to wake up — take in the reality of where they are, so they can see what it takes to close the gap. After that, they had to get up and become a part of the solution, “grow up” and take responsibility for their part of the dream.

The final step, he said, is to “give up” their personal agenda in order to make humanity better through intentional action.

Boone, who grew up in Flint, named people at Tech who’d mentored him, inspired him, and led him to his current success as a professional speaker.

Tech football coach Tom Kearly had put 40 minorities through Tech, including Boone, with four-year scholarships that weren’t dependent on their performance.

“Do you know what type of security that creates for young men who never had it growing up?” he said. “To know that no matter how I perform for this man, this man will not take that security away from me. So I have the chance to graduate and it’s up to me.”

Garrett Neese/Daily Mining Gazette Jared Anderson conducts the Michigan Tech Chamber Singers’ performance of “O Freedom” during the interfaith prayer vigil as part of the Martin Luther King Day celebrations at Tech Monday.

The brunch also included the presentation of the Bayard Rustin Award from Tech’s chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers. The award, named for the influential civil rights activist and advisor to civil rights leaders, honors Michigan Tech faculty or staff member for their behind-the-scenes contributions. This year’s recipient was Jacek Borysow, interim department chair of physics.

Boone asked people in the audience to share how they’d lived King’s dream or contributed to the journey. One volunteer, student Austin McFarlane, said he did things out of his comfort zone, and tried to elevate those around him.

He expanded on that as a speaker during the following interfaith prayer vigil. As a Black student coming to Tech, he had felt unable to relate to his peers during orientation.

“I called my dad that night, I was very upset,” he said. “And I was like, ‘Dad, I don’t know if I can do it.’ And he was like, ‘Austin, you know, there’s a place for you anywhere you go, you just have to make it.'”

McFarlane applied that year to become a resident advisor. He’s also done work for campus orientation and served as a success coach.

Garrett Neese/Daily Mining Gazette Michigan Technological University student Austin McFarlane reflects on the legacy of Martin Luther King during an interfaith prayer vigil as part of Tech’s MLK Day celebrations Monday.

“I’ve always been a person that wants to elevate and lift up students of color, because I understand that it’s not an easy place to be in,” he said. “But it is a place that we can make whatever we want with it.”

The vigil also featured musical performances interspersed with readings from King’s work and reflections on his legacy.

The day concluded with the Peace March, where a group of around 50 people braved wind and snow in a walk from the Husky statue to the new Gateway Arch at the west end of campus.

“Those that come before us have made a lot of sacrifices, and so this is the least that we can do — sacrifice a little bit in the cold just to show that we’re all standing together in the work for diversity, equity and inclusion,” said Laura Bulleit, vice president for student affairs at Michigan Technological University.

Garrett Neese/Daily Mining Gazette Darnishia Morris speaks about the connection between Martin Luther King and Bayard Rustin during an interfaith prayer vigil as part of Michigan Technological University’s Martin Luther King Day celebrations.

Garrett Neese/Daily Mining Gazette Mariana Nakashima and Robert Hutchinson read an affirmation from the writings of Martin Luther King, Jr. during an interfaith vigil as part of MLK Day celebrations at Michigan Technological University Monday. Nakashima and Hutchinson both read excerpts from King’s work earlier in the vigil.

Garrett Neese/Daily Mining Gazette Michigan Technological University students, staff and faculty clap along to “One Foot/Lead With Love” at the end of an interfaith prayer vigil as part of Martin Luther King Day celebrations at Tech Monday.

Garrett Neese/Daily Mining Gazette Michigan Technological University students, staff and faculty clap along to “One Foot/Lead With Love” at the end of an interfaith prayer vigil as part of Martin Luther King Day celebrations at Tech Monday.

Garrett Neese/Daily Mining Gazette A group of about 50 Michigan Technological University faculty, staff and students participate in a peace march during MLK Day celebrations Monday.

Garrett Neese/Daily Mining Gazette A group of about 50 Michigan Technological University faculty, staff and students participate in a peace march during MLK Day celebrations Monday.

Garrett Neese/Daily Mining Gazette A group of about 50 Michigan Technological University faculty, staff and students participate in a peace march during MLK Day celebrations Monday.

Garrett Neese/Daily Mining Gazette A group of about 50 Michigan Technological University faculty, staff and students participate in a peace march during MLK Day celebrations Monday.

Garrett Neese/Daily Mining Gazette Jaylyn Boone, a 2018 Michigan Technological University graduate who now lives in Dallas, delivers the keynote address at Tech’s Martin Luther King Day brunch Monday.

Garrett Neese/Daily Mining Gazette Michigan Technological University students read an affirmation from the writings of Martin Luther King, Jr. during an interfaith vigil as part of MLK Day celebrations at Michigan Technological University Monday.

Garrett Neese/Daily Mining Gazette Jaylyn Boone, a 2018 Michigan Technological University graduate who now lives in Dallas, delivers the keynote address at Tech’s Martin Luther King Day brunch Monday.