Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship Luncheon

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, Dr. Ben Carson, and Terry McMillan. The program also honors and provides scholarships to students whose leadership and service reflect Dr. King’s teachings. Scholarships are presented to students during this annual event. Over $100,000 has been awarded to UNF students.

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.

students and faculty gathered after the luncheon students sitting at a table

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

Past Speakers

Year	Speaker Name and Description
2018	Dr. Eddie S. Glaude, Jr. Chair of the Center for African American Studies and William S. Tod Professor of Religion and African-American Studies at Princeton University.
2017	Ndaba Thembekile Mandela Grandson of the late South African President Nelson Mandela, President and CEO of Africa Rising, one of BET's "28 Men of Change."
2016	Terry McMillan Advocate and best-selling author of Waiting to Exhale and How Stella Got Her Groove Back.
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 Harvard Law School alumnus.
2013	Jasmine Guy 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.