Mark Wilcox/Daily Mining Gazette Andrea Andress, left, accepts the Bayard Rustin Award from Gifty Odai at Michigan Tech's MLK Banquet Monday.

HOUGHTON — Michigan Technological University joined most of the nation Monday in honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The MLK Day of Service Banquet, held in the Memorial Union Ballroom, is designed by organizers to be “a time of critical reflection, or consciousness raising, and of building up community.

Attended by students, faculty, staff and community members, more than 150 gathered to enjoy good food, good music and good conversation on the legacy of King and the important of service to others.

Attendees were greeted by music by the Workshop Brass Band – fully credited ensemble at MTU that learns all of the music by ear (no sheet music!). Led on trumpet and vocals by Adam Meckler associate professor of visual and performing arts the ensemble also featured Assistant Teaching Professor Drew Kilpela on trombone, along with five students.

Michigan Tech President Richard Koubek opened the even. “When I was thinking about what I was going to say tonight, I was reflecting on what makes up Michigan Tech,” Koubek said while the buildings on campus and those inside those building “Make up Michigan Tech … kind of” he said. Koubek reflected on the thought that the University is really about the bond the institution forms by all those affected by the University, including those on campus, the alumni community and the community in general. He said the evenings theme “Unity Through Service” is an adequate description of the goals of the university.

One of the highlights of the evening was the presentation of the Bayard Rustin Award presented by the MTU chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers. Established in 2019, The award was instituted in honor of an aide and confidant to Dr. Martin Luther King, Bayard Rustin. He was the main organizer of the 1963 march on Washington for jobs and freedom, an iconic moment in the history of our nation. NSBE presents the award to inspire diversity and inclusion in the university community. It is awarded to a person or people whose work promotes the inclusive social justice principles of Rustin.

Presenting the award was Gifty Odai a Ph.D. candidate in geotechnical engineering. This year’s recipient is Andrea Andres, a professor of practice in the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering.

Rather than a keynote speaker as in years past, this year’s banquet featured a Keynote Panel featuring recent alumni Austin McFarlane, Jemel Thompson and Jailynn Johnson, moderated by students MJ Mbugua and Allison Lewis.

The panelists were asked a series of questions focusing on their experiences at Michigan Tech and how those experiences, shaped by the legacy of MLK, influenced them in their careers and beyond. McFarlane said, “When I arrived at Michigan Tech, I struggled because I hadn’t found my community yet.” He said once he found “his community” everything changed. He said he didn’t build that community by himself, “There were so many people who helped me build that community.”

Thompson encouraged the students to become involved, “When I came here I did everything under the sun, I become involved with everything.” He emphasized civic responsibility. “We are in a community together,” hd said. “Advocate for yourself and advocate for others.”

Johnson said in order to be a good leader, one must be a good follower. “One of the most powerful things you have,” she told the students, “is your voice. It’s so important to capitalize on your opportunities.”

The evening was organized by the Black Students Association at MTU and supported by nearly 20 academic and administration departments. Other MLK Day events included an art display in the Opie and Van Pelt Library through next Monday and an interfaith service earlier in the day Monday. Traditionally students, faculty and staff visit local elementary schools to read stories about King. Thia year, those events were suspended because of school cancellations due to the weather.