VGCC celebrates legacy of Martin Luther King
A standing-room-only crowd enjoyed oratory and music at Vance-Granville Community College’s Civic Center on Jan. 13 as the college held its annual celebration of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday. Sylvia Jones, director of VGCC’s Workforce Investment Act (WIA) department and chairperson of the celebration, welcomed students, faculty, staff and members of the community to the event, which was emceed by VGCC Director of Student Activities and Athletics Jasmine Hightower. Hightower told attendees that by federal law, the King holiday is a national “Day of Service,” and she encouraged them to make Jan. 18 “a day ‘on,’ not a day off,” by serving others, either in local communities or helping those affected by the recent earthquake in Haiti. As a form of service, attendees brought non-perishable food items to be donated to area senior citizens.
Inspirational music was provided by a choir consisting of VGCC students, faculty and staff, under the direction of VGCC music instructor Michael Stephenson. The choir was accompanied by students who have received the college’s music performance scholarships: Mike Allen of Henderson; Darius (D.J.) Betts and William Crews, both of Oxford; and Nicholas Horvath of Creedmoor.
In a new feature for the annual event, four VGCC students were selected to deliver speeches on the meaning of Dr. King’s legacy. Calvin Boyd, an Electrical/Electronics Technology student from Norlina, said that he was born in the 1950s to sharecroppers and experienced the segregated society. Recalling Dr. King’s dream that “all of God’s children…will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual: Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!” Boyd said that today’s dream should be that all people will be able to join the mainstream of America, singing “Included at Last! Included at Last!” Michael Jamal Cooper of Warrenton said that King’s example was that ordinary people could do extraordinary things. “MLK’s legacy gives me a sense of freedom, power and pride,” Cooper said. Bryon Hoadley of Macon focused on non-violence and equality. Shirlecia Hunt of Norlina reflected on determination and on King’s statement that “Faith can give us courage to face the uncertainties of the future.” Cooper, Hoadley and Hunt are all students at Warren Early College High School on VGCC’s Warren County Campus . A panel — Pastor Phillip Betts of Cornerstone Christian Community Church of Oxford, Kelly Hundley of the Kerr-Tar Council of Governments and retired VGCC Dean of Adult Basic Education Leo Kelly — judged the speeches and awarded cash prizes: first-place ($100) to Hunt; second-place ($75), Cooper; third-place ($50), Hoadley; and fourth-place ($50), Boyd.
Remarks by VGCC Dean of Business and Applied Technologies Bobby Van Brunt and President Randy Parker rounded out the program. Parker commended the students who had spoken and encouraged all students to follow their dreams. He added that King’s messages of tolerance, equality and understanding have new meaning as today’s college graduates enter a global economy in which different cultures come into contact. As the celebration ended, the choir and attendees joined in singing the civil rights anthem, “We Shall Overcome.”
Above, left: From left, the four VGCC students who delivered speeches Jan. 13 included Bryon Hoadley of Macon (who won second place), Shirlecia Hunt of Norlina (first place), Michael Jamal Cooper of Warrenton (third place) and Calvin Boyd of Norlina (fourth place). (VGCC photo)
Above, right: VGCC music instructor Michael Stephenson plays the saxophone while leading the college’s Martin Luther King Choir on Jan. 13. (VGCC photo)
