Olympic Gold Medalist Dominique Dawes Speaks at MLK Luncheon

Joanna Norris, Assistant Director

Department of Media Relations and Events

(904) 620-2102

Three-time Olympian and gold-medal winner Dominique Dawes will be the featured speaker at the 29th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Luncheon. She will discuss “Reaching Your Full Potential,” which will include eight principles that helped her become successful in and out of the athletic arena.

The scholarship luncheon, presented by the University of North Florida’s Intercultural Center for PEACE, will be held at noon on Thursday, Feb. 4, at the University Center Banquet Hall on the UNF campus. Doors will open at 11:30 a.m.

Dawes is best known for her success as an Olympic gymnast who competed in three Olympic Games, won three medals and has a permanent place in the U.S. Olympic Committee Hall of Fame. Fans across the nation remember her as a member of the gold-medal winning “Magnificent Seven” at the 1996 Atlanta games, where she also won a bronze medal and became the first African-American gymnast to win an individual medal. She also earned a bronze medal with the U.S. team in the 1992 Barcelona games and made a surprising comeback in the 2000 Sydney games.

After retiring from the sport to which she dedicated 18 years of her life, Dawes has found a new passion empowering others. Today, she is an accomplished motivational speaker, broadcaster, national spokeswoman, Broadway performer, part-time coach and gymnastics clinician.

Dawes’ message empowers vast audiences from corporate executives to small business owners, women’s organizations to youth service organizations, and high school to college-age students; her passion and energy is captivating, leaving a lasting effect on those she inspires.

Tickets are available online at http://capricorn.anf.unf.edu/unftbo3/shopdisplaycategories.asp or at the UNF Ticket Box Office at (904) 620-2878. Ticket prices for the luncheon are $30 for non-students; $1,000 for a Gold-Level Corporate Table, which includes a table for eight, table signage, preferred seating, recognition in the program and from the podium during the luncheon; and $500 for Silver-Level Corporate tables, which includes a table for eight and table signage. Free tickets will be given to the first 150 UNF students (one per student with valid UNF ID).

For more information, contact Chris Bender, program assistant for Intercultural Center for PEACE, or an ICP staff member at (904) 620-2475.

-UNF-