Dream Week Activities Receive Regional Recognition

SHREVEPORT, La.—For 10 days in January, students, faculty and staff celebrated the legacy, the views and the impact of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., with a tribute that included lectures, film and document screenings, a theater performance, and a community service project.

The celebration was the first of its kind at the College, and recently was awarded the Diversity Program of the Month award by the National Residence Hall Honorary for January.

"We are very excited to have received the award," said Dr. Kelly Pledger Weeks, Associate Professor of Business and chair of the Diversity Committee. "It shows how much our students enjoyed and appreciated the diverse programming for Dream Week and Centenary, and I am thrilled that they chose to submit the program for the award."

Dream Week 2009: Keeping the Dream Alive honored the life of Dr. King with activities designed to capture the spirit of his message, but also provided the opportunity to reflect on the past while seeking hope, determination and an opportunity to act upon the promise of the future. The goal of the program was to educate the students, faculty and other staff of the importance and achievements of MLK.

"Students who only knew the basics are now quite educated of his life," said Cara Miccoli, a biology major who wrote the nomination for the College. "As a college student in the southern United States, it is important to be educated of the past that the surrounding community has experienced, especially if you are completely unaware of the culture of the area. Civil rights movements are a part of every American citizen's past, and a point in our history that unites all races in the United States. Students on Centenary's campus are now aware of the power of MLK and why his life should be celebrated."

The program not only won the campus-wide entry, but also the regional award from the Southwest Affiliate of the National Association of College and University Residence Halls association, which includes schools from Louisiana, Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma and Mexico.

Every month, "OTMs" or "Of the Month" Awards are given out for 13 different categories, recognizing outstanding student involvement and leadership, along with programs that have made an impact on each campus. To date, Centenary College is leading the region in most Regional and National OTMs for the year.

To read the complete nomination for award, click HERE.

About Centenary College of Louisiana

Centenary College is a private, four-year arts and sciences college affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Founded in 1825, it is the oldest chartered liberal arts college west of the Mississippi River and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Centenary is one of 16 colleges and universities constituting the Associated Colleges of the South and is regularly rated as one of the top colleges in the South. In 2008 Centenary College celebrated 100 years in the Shreveport and Bossier City communities.