Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Annual Awards

The awards and scholarships will be presented at a virtual ceremony featuring a student instrumental and musical gospel performance on Saturday, January 16, 2021 from 3–5 p.m. This event will premiere on EMU's Facebook Page and YouTube Channel.

Student Instrumental and Musical Gospel Performers (At awards ceremony)

Performance 1: Dominick Brooks, Chantel Campbell, Treondis Snodgrass
“Lift Every Voice and Sing

Performance 2: Dominick Brooks, Chantel Campbell
“A Night in Tunisia”

Performance 3: Caleena Wilson
“Reckless Love”
“A Medley”

Performance 4: Tailen Toilver
“Precious Lord”
“All in His Hands”

As part of our 2021 MLK Celebration, EMU continues its tradition of recognizing individuals from within the University and surrounding community who exemplify the values and ideals of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Each year, a key part of the celebration is the presentation of MLK awards and scholarships at the MLK Day President’s Luncheon. These awards include the: MLK Student Scholarship, MLK Humanitarian Award, and the Evans-Strand Peace Award. In 2021, we are adding the MLK Student Essay Scholarship. Additionally, the MLK Humanitarian Award will recognize an Eastern faculty or staff, as well as a member of the broader community.

A brief description of each award follows:

MLK Student Scholarship

The purpose of the Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK) Award is to recognize an Eastern Michigan University student who has demonstrated:

  • A commitment to promoting respect and improving the quality of life for all people consistent with the ideals of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
  • Service to Eastern Michigan University and/or the southeastern Michigan community.

The recipient will receive a $1,000 scholarship credited to their student account and will be recognized at the virtual MLK, Jr. Celebration Awards and Scholarships Ceremony on Saturday, January 16, 2021.

2021 MLK Student Scholarship Recipient: D’Anna Hayes

Biographical Information:

D’Anna Hayes is a senior at Eastern Michigan University. D’Anna is an Accounting Major with a Finance Minor (3.71 GPA). D’Anna grew up in Chicago, Illinois. She is a member of the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. and the Treasurer of the organization. D’Anna also serves as the

secretary of the EMU Chapter of the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA); and

she recently founded a student organization designed to help sexual assault victims navigate the legal environment around Title IX.  Dr. Randall Hucks, notes that D’Anna demonstrates a strong commitment to promoting respect and improving the quality of life for all people consistent with the ideals of Dr. King, as well as a tremendous amount of service to the EMU community and to southeast Michigan more broadly.

MLK Humanitarian Award (Internal Award and External Award)

The purpose of the Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK) Humanitarian Award is to recognize a member of the Eastern Michigan University campus community (faculty or staff), and a member of the broader community, who exhibits the following qualities:

  • A person who exemplifies the values and ideals of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., specifically in the areas of advocacy, leadership and service.
  • A person who has made a significant contribution to the University and/or broader community.

2021 MLK Humanitarian Award Recipient: Dr. Rema Reynolds

Biographical Information:

Dr. Rema Reynolds, is an Associate Professor in Leadership and Counseling at Eastern Michigan University. Dr. Reynolds exudes many of the qualities of Dr. Martin L. King Jr. in the area of advocacy, service, and leadership. Former and current students regard Dr. Reynolds as a transformative leader and a “bridge builder” with social justice priorities.

As an educator, Dr. Rema Reynolds provides students with life lessons that go beyond the classroom. Dr. Reynolds’s has collaborations with community members to train and mentor students including the EMU Elite leadership development program, the Detroit Public School Community District, CMA Student Plug and she supervises the MISTEM program with the Michigan Department of Education. In addition, Dr. Reynolds gives of her time free to host a weekly parent workshop. Donya Odom, Principal, Communication & Media Arts High School adds that Dr. Rema Reynolds challenges the institutional practices of sexism, racism, and heteronormality. Furthermore, Dr. DeSheil Echols stated, “Dr. Rema Vassar has served a life-changing role in my role as a practitioner and district administrator. I speak on behalf of all my fellow leader-scholars (EMU Elite) we fully support Dr. Rema Reynolds as the recipient of the 2021 MLK Humanitarian Award”.

Evans Strand-Peace Award

The purpose of the Evans-Strand Peace Award is to recognize an Eastern Michigan University student who has made a significant contribution toward enhanced understanding and peace between diverse persons or groups at EMU.

The recipient will receive a $1,000 award credited to their student account and will be recognized at the virtual MLK, Jr. Celebration Ceremony on Saturday, January 16, 2021.

2021 Evans-Strand Peace Award Recipient: Maliyah McGowan 

Biographical Information:

Maliyah McGowan is a freshman at Eastern Michigan University. Maliyah is a Pre-Veterinary Medicine Major (4.00 GPA) and a Sisterhood Scholar. Maliyah grew up in in Saginaw, Michigan. During her first semester at Eastern Michigan University, Maliyah became a member of the of M.A.P.S. (Minority Association of Pre-medical Students). As a member of M.A.P.S. , she completed several hours of community service and was given the opportunity to network with various  medical school administrators about their medical and veterinary programs. Maliyah is also a member of NASO (Native American Student Organization), in this role she has participated in Native American culture events during a pandemic. “As a first-year student, Maliyah has already made some of the important steps that it takes to truly contribute to the continued fight for racial equality and equity in this nation,” Kendra Ollis, Academic Coach, Sisterhood Scholars Program.

MLK Student Essay Scholarship

The purpose of this new scholarship is to recognize up to three Eastern Michigan University students who are using their creativity through a piece of their writing or multimodal presentation to express in what ways the MLK Celebration theme affects them. The 2021 MLK Celebration theme is “We the People Speak: No Justice, No Peace”.

Student applicants are required to share a piece of writing or multimodal presentation that best demonstrates how the theme of this year’s celebration speaks to them.

Three students will be chosen to each receive a $500 scholarship credited to their student accounts, based on creativity, passion, and connection to Dr. King’s legacy and will be recognized at the virtual MLK, Jr. Celebration Ceremony on Saturday, January 16, 2021.

2021 Student Essay Scholarship Recipients:

  • Lawrence Smith (Performed Poem)
  • Alexandria McCormick (Video)
  • Kennede Thomas (Paintings with Rationals)

MLK Essay Contest Honorable Mention Recipients

  • Marcel Bellamy
  • Chocolate Brooks
  • Erica Burks
  • Duaa Caldwell
  • Donacal Clemons
  • Donovan Colbert
  • Holly Cudahy
  • Sean Harris
  • Kyla Jones
  • Joshua Lees
  • Shanta Massie
  • Maliyah McGowan
  • Mysa Nahlawi
  • Amro Nasser
  • Shakira Ross
  • Amanda Segerstrom
  • Johnnie Session III
  • Christian Sledge
  • Tiana Stewart
  • Abigail Tandoh
  • Tamara Terraza
  • Sienna Williams

For more information on any of the awards, please email [email protected].