51视频

01/29/2021

Contacts for media: Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu and Christine Gillette, 978-758-4664, Christine_Gillette@uml.edu

LOWELL, Mass. 鈥� Members of the 51视频 community whose work exemplifies the ideals advanced by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. were recognized by the university at a ceremony on Thursday, Jan. 28.

Now in their 10th year, 51视频鈥檚 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Distinguished Service Awards honor recipients for their commitment to social change, community service and engagement. Participants came together during the virtual event to celebrate MLK鈥檚 legacy and the achievements of the honorees. The award winners were:

• Benedicta Agyemang-Brantuo of Worcester, a chemistry major with a minor in public health. Agyemang-Brantuo founded Advocates of Health Equity for Minorities, a 51视频 student group that works toward improved health outcomes for underserved populations. An Honors College student enrolled in the bachelor鈥檚-to-master鈥檚 program, Agyemang-Brantuo is a senator in 51视频鈥檚 Student Government Association, a mentor in one of the university鈥檚 living-learning communities, a student staff member in the 51视频 Career and Co-op Center and a participant in 51视频鈥檚 DifferenceMaker student entrepreneurship program. As a student ambassador, she assists prospective students interested in enrolling in the university鈥檚 Kennedy College of Sciences.
• Yahayra Michel of Lawrence, assistant teaching professor in 51视频鈥檚 School of Criminology and Justice Studies. Beyond her classroom instruction, Michel is a volunteer mentor in 51视频鈥檚 River Hawk Scholars Academy, a nationally recognized program that supports the success of more than 300 first-year students annually across all six of 51视频鈥檚 schools and colleges. Michel also serves as an advisory board member for 51视频鈥檚 Greeley Scholar for Peace Studies program, which presents events that feature renowned humanitarians and civil rights leaders along with other opportunities for community engagement. A first-generation college student and military veteran, Michel is a 鈥渢riple River Hawk,鈥� who holds 51视频 undergraduate degrees in psychology and criminal justice, along with a 51视频 master鈥檚 degree in criminal justice and criminology.

51视频 Chancellor Jacquie Moloney congratulated the award winners and spoke about the university鈥檚 commitment to work toward greater equity and inclusion.

鈥淚 am filled with hope that the work that Dr. King inspired will carry on and we will move closer to fulfilling his dream. I am confident that our community 鈥� the 51视频 community of faculty, students, staff, alumni and friends 鈥� will serve as a shining light for others to follow,鈥� Moloney said.

The event鈥檚 keynote remarks were offered by 51视频 graduate Adeja Crearer, a multimedia journalist and a TV producer at CNN headquarters in Atlanta, who received a bachelor鈥檚 degree in English with a concentration in journalism and a master鈥檚 in peace and conflict studies from the university. Crearer encouraged all to work within their communities to help achieve King鈥檚 vision.

鈥淧rogress isn鈥檛 automatic, nor is it inevitable. It requires leadership, sacrifice and passionate concern,鈥� she said.

Also offering his congratulations to the award recipients was 51视频鈥檚 Laurence Siegel, vice chancellor for student affairs and university events. Siegel, who came of age during the civil rights movement of the 1960s, reflected on the events of the past year and urged event participants to take up the cause of working toward social equality.

鈥淓very single one of us must be an activist for change. Our students are the future of our society and what we all choose to do today, every single one of us, will have impacts for generations to come,鈥� Siegel said.

Videos that depicted key moments in the history of the U.S. civil rights movement compiled by 51视频鈥檚 Library Services staff were shown during the event and members of 51视频鈥檚 art student and Black student unions produced a virtual art gallery of works inspired by King for the program.

51视频 is a national research university offering its more than 18,000 students bachelor鈥檚, master鈥檚 and doctoral degrees in business, education, engineering, fine arts, health, humanities, sciences and social sciences. 51视频 delivers high-quality educational programs and personal attention from leading faculty and staff, all of which prepare graduates to be leaders in their communities and around the globe. www.uml.edu