Austin College to Host MLK Jr. Day Community Celebration  

SHERMAN, TEXAS— Austin College will host its annual community-wide celebration of the life and achievements of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday, January 15, at 11 a.m. in Ida Green Communication Center’s Sally and Jim Nation Theatre, 1201 E. Brockett St. The program is free and open to the public.  

The 2024 program, titled, “Cultivating a Community of Inclusion,” focuses on Dr. King’s local and international impact in our world, and is hosted by the College, Grayson County Rotary Club, and Sherman Rotary Club.   

Keynote speaker Dr. Geré Feltus received her Bachelor of Arts degree in biology from Austin College in 2001 and her medical degree from Wake Forest University in 2006. She is a board-certified family physician, elected as a McKinney City Council member representing District 3 in 2021, and member of the Austin College Board of Trustees.  

Student speaker Yvan Konan ’26 is a Student Today Alumni Tomorrow (STAT) ambassador and a member of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship and Black Expressions. Yvan is majoring in business finance and minoring in accounting.  

Dr. Lisa M. Brown, Dean of Social Sciences, and Clemon White ’24 will perform Andra Day’s “Rise Up” as a special musical tribute.   

Each year, this event is a fundraising opportunity for the Grayson County NAACP Scholarship.  Dr. Al Hambrick of the Grayson County NAACP branch will report on the scholarship recipients from the class of 2023. Along with the Sherman and Grayson County Rotary Clubs, other generous sponsors of the scholarship fund include Undaunted Agency, Sherman Chamber of Commerce, and the City of Sherman. Individual contributions can be made to the scholarship fund via the online charitable giving platform ActBlue or at the event.    

A new addition to the celebration this year will be the inaugural presentation of the MLK Visionary Award.  This award will be presented by the Austin College Office of Inclusion and Diversity to honor a community member who exemplifies the teachings of Dr. King. The name of the recipient will be announced live at the event. 

Following the celebration, all attendees are invited to a complimentary lunch in the dining hall in Wright Campus Center courtesy of Austin College and ARAMARK Dining Services.  

In addition to the community-wide celebration on MLK Day, a MLK march is scheduled for Saturday, January 13. The march will start at 10 a.m. on the steps of the Grayson County Courthouse in downtown Sherman and will proceed to MLK Park at 1120 North Broughton Street, Sherman, Texas, for a short program. 

Austin College, a private national liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas, has earned a reputation for excellence in academic preparation, pre-professional foundations, committed faculty, and hands-on, adventurous learning opportunities. One of 40 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges That Change Lives, Austin College boasts a welcoming community that embraces diversity and individuality, with more than 50 percent of students identifying as persons of color. The residential student body of approximately 1,300 students and an expert faculty of more than 100 educators allow a 13:1 student-faculty ratio and personalized attention. Related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA), Austin College cultivates an inclusive atmosphere that supports students’ faith journeys regardless of religious tradition. The College, founded in 1849, is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under its original name and charter.