Midland University students recently had the opportunity to learn about Martin Luther King Jr.’s impact on past and future generations as part of the Celebration of Diversity & Inclusion event on January 17th.

Students did not have classes on MLK Day but instead had the chance to hear a guest speaker, participate in various breakout sessions, and learn about cultures and people who may be different from themselves.

The event combined elements of both the Equity and Inclusion Summit and Mission Day into a day to celebrate not only the impact of MLK, but the impact that many of the student organizations on the Midland campus such as Black Student Union, Hispanic Student Union, PRISM, and Global Warriors, are making daily. “We hope it jumpstarts more awareness of the different issues that we face every day,” Dr. Megan Nielsen, Dean of the Luther College of Arts and Sciences, said. “Some of these student organizations are still fairly new, and we want our students to become more aware of them.”

Harkera Hardy, a 2015 Midland graduate and founder of #notyouraveragesuccessstory, shared stories on how students can write their own stories on the road to success. Students then participated in breakout sessions in the afternoon. “Some of the sessions included MLK specific topics, while others involved students watching videos or engaging in diverse ways highlighting a variety of topics. Each room offered students a different interactive moment,” Nielsen said. 

Students had the opportunity to make their imprint on a large mural outside Hopkins Arena throughout the day. Student organizations were also given the opportunity to share their missions with students through various events throughout the week. 

“The goal is to allow these organizations to share their group with other students and make them aware they have a presence on campus,” said Sidney Hirsch, Assistant Athletic Director and Director of Student Development/Warrior Skills. “You don’t have to be an international student to be a member of Global Warriors, so it presented students a chance to learn more about these students and their different cultures.”

Isaac Jennings, Assistant Athletic Director, wants students to see the world from a different perspective and learn from the many diverse people they encounter each day. “I want our students to realize they have a lot of control and can enact change,” he said. “I hope these opportunities allow them to be open-minded and enlightened from these events.”