The University of New Haven hosted its annual Martin Luther King Jr. ceremony to honor his legacy and contributions to the Civil Rights Movement last week. The theme of the celebration this year was “The Power of Service.”
The program saw multiple members of the university’s leadership speaking, including Barbara Lawrence, vice president of institutional equity and diversity, and Pres. Jens Frederiksen. Frederiksen discussed the discrimination many still face today, and the service the university tries to provide, stating their commitment to “the human good.”
“This commitment includes acknowledging an underlying set of values, such as respect for others which conditions the university’s primary mission of preparing students to the purposeful and fulfilling lives in a global society,” said Frederiksen.
Toni Harp, a former Connecticut state senator and the first Black woman to serve as New Haven mayor, also emphasized three points: “One is there is power in service. Two, that you can serve. Three, that the service you provide multiplies and eventually returns to you.”
Harp is known for her extensive work in providing equity . She served 21 years as Connecticut state senator for New Haven and West Haven, and she served three two-year terms as mayor.
Harp said when she was a girl,her mother feared for their safety because of their race. She said her mother’s fear and growing up being called racial slurs motivated her to become involved in the civil rights movement. Throughout her speech, Harp made several calls to action.
The celebration included recognizing four award recipients and a scholarship recipient who exemplified the life of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.. Recognized were:
For the Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship, Sheraud Wilder ‘26, who works as the assistant director for a nonprofit’s youth development program, and advocates for community engagement, social justice and cultural awareness on campus.
For the MLK Jr. Vision award, Emmy award-winning production leader and professor at the university, Wayne Edwards. “To receive an award named after one of the most influential people in civil rights history, is humbling. I cannot thank my colleagues enough for nominating me and I express my full gratitude to Barbra Lawrence, Jade Roman and those who selected me,” Edwards said.
Students Krupa Ann Mathew ‘25 MPH, and Jordan Paulin ‘26 followed as the student recipients of the same award. Ann Mathew is one of only three students in the country to receive the Vivian Drenckhahn Student Scholarship from the Society for Public Health Education, and Paulin serves as Executive Assistant for The Brothers of New Haven, and is a leader in the Men of Color collective.
Philip H. and Susan S. Bartels Advocacy, Leadership, & Service Award, was presented to Dr. Alvin Tran.
Shelia Smith, executive director of the school’s DEI strategic initiatives, said of Tran: “His dedication to health equity was also evident during his time as a Science and Technology Policy fellow at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.”
The event included a Q&A session with Harp and William H Carbone, Tow Youth Institute senior executive director.
Members of the university’s marching band provided music, and ended the ceremony by performing “Happy Birthday” by Stevie Wonder. Wonder wrote the song to push for King’s achievements to be recognized which was released six years before Pres. Ronald Reagan established Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a federal holiday in 1986.
