Dr. Eddie Glaude at the 2018 MLK Luncheon

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship Celebration

Join the Intercultural Center each February as we honor the ideals and teachings of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King by recognizing students who carry his legacy forward through both their scholastic achievements and commitment to servant leadership. Each year, generated proceeds from luncheon ticket sales support the Intercultural Center in having awarded UNF students more than $140,000 in scholarships to date. Evoking the dynamic oration skills of Dr. King, nationally acclaimed speakers take to the podium each year to deliver memorable keynote addresses. Past speakers include Ossie Davis, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Blair Underwood, Guy Jasmine, Hill Harper and Dominique Dawes.

The 41st Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Celebration is scheduled for Wednesday, February 9, 2022. Recognize this year's scholarship recipients and hear from our dynamic guest speaker, Dr. Mary Frances Berry, in honor of UNF's 50th anniversary.

Individuals who require reasonable accommodations in order to participate must notify the Intercultural Center at least five (5) business days prior to the event. For assistance, call (904) 620-2475.

Donate to the UNF Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Fund

Past Speakers

Year	Speaker Name and Description
2021	Roland S. Martin Journalist, CNN contributor, and host of Roland Martin Unfiltered.
2020	Reverend Gwendolyn Cook Webb Civil rights activist and participant in The Birmingham Children's Crusade.
2019	Carlotta Walls-LaNier Youngest of the Little Rock Nine, civil rights advocate, and Congressional Gold Medal recipient.
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.