Martin Luther King Jr. Annual Luncheon

The 35th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Luncheon

February 18, 2016

Doors Open at 11:30 a.m. Luncheon begins at 12:00 p.m.

Guest Speaker, Terry McMillan, bestselling author of How Stella Got Her Groove Back and Waiting to Exhale

Tickets are available at the UNF Box Office. Click here to order your tickets online. First 50 students attend FREE.

McMillan headshot

The University of North Florida’s (UNF) Intercultural Center for PEACE (ICP) annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship Luncheon, is an event where an internationally acclaimed leader is invited to speak to honor the ideals of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King and teach about his philosophy of non-violence. Past speakers include Asa Hilliard, Ossie Davis, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Blair Underwood, and Dr. Ben Carson. The program also honors and provides scholarships to students whose leadership and service reflect Dr. King’s teachings. During the program four student scholarships are awarded. Over $100,000 has been awarded to UNF students.

An award for faculty has been added to recognize a faculty member who promotes diversity and has outstanding international and community accomplishments working towards peace. The faculty award is named after Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the only Nobel Peace Prize Winner who has previously taught at UNF. The program takes place in February as part of the UNF Black History Month Celebration. For the last thirty-three years, the annual Martin Luther King Scholarship Luncheon has raised scholarship funds for over 100 UNF students. The event attracts students, faculty, staff and community members.

This event is sponsored by the UNF President’s Office, the Office of the Vice President of Student and International Affairs, and the Intercultural Center for PEACE.

Ticket Information

The first 50 UNF students attend FREE. One per student with UNF I.D. Only available at the UNF Ticket Box Office.

Click here to order tickets.

Individual Ticket: $30

Supporter Corporate Table: $500

Table for eight, table signage, preferential seating, recognition in program

Silver Corporate Table: $1000

Table for eight, table signage, preferential seating, recognition and company logo in program, a special thank you during the luncheon

Gold Corporate Table: $2500

Table for eight, table signage, preferential seating, recognition and company logo in program, company logo displayed on screen and a special thank you during the luncheon

Platinum Corporate Table: $5000

Table for eight, table signage, premiere seating, recognition and company logo in program, company logo displayed on screen, a special thank you during the luncheon, and a meet and greet social with the speaker

MLK 2015 Luncheon 2 MLK 2015 Luncheon 1

Students and faculty enjoying the 34th annual Martin Luther King Junior Luncheon with Steve Pemberton

Past Speakers

2015	Steve Pemberton Corporate executive, motivational speaker, visionary youth advocate and best-selling author
2014	Hill Harper Actor, Performer, Author, NAACP Image Award Winner, Youth Advocate and Alumnus of Harvard Law School
2013	Guy Jasmine Performer, Director, Writer, and Choreographer
2012	Dr. James H. Cone Charles Augustus Briggs Distinguished Professor of Systematic Theology at Union Theological Seminary and author of numerous published books and articles
2011	Juan Williams Author, Journalist and Political Commentator
2010	Dominique Dawes Olympic Gold Medal winning gymnast, three time Olympian, motivational speaker, spokeswoman, broadcaster, and Yahoo! Sports Analyst
2009	Dr. Benjamin Carson A full professor of neurosurgery, oncology, plastic surgery and pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. He was named by CNN and TIME Magazine as one of the nation’s 20 foremost physicians and scientists, and he was selected by the Library of Congress as one of 89 “Living Legends” on the occasion of its 200th anniversary.
2008	Blair Underwood Actor, Director, Producer and Author.
2007	Tavis Smiley Broadcaster, Author, Advocate and Philanthropist
2006	Charlayne Hunter-Gault World renowned Journalist, Author, and Civil Rights Pioneer. As CNN’s former Johannesburg Bureau Chief and Correspondent, Hunter-Gault introduced viewers to the people of the diverse continent of Africa, a country she once called “one of the greatest challenges that we in the media face.”
2005	Dick Gregory Author, Actor and Civil Rights Activist. Gregory continues to work for human rights causes around the world.
2004	Dr. Cornel West Professor at Princeton University a compelling orator, acute philosopher, and progressive visionary. Dr. West was a professor of religion and director for the Program in African-American Studies in Princeton. His book, Race Matters was published in 1993.