Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
A record crowd packed the Center Lake Pavilion Monday to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at the 12th annual program.
"I'm just thrilled," said Joe Banks, chairman of the Committee to Commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Inc., after the lunchtime program. "What a beautiful statement for Kosciusko County."
More than 180 people attended the luncheon.
A highlight of the program was recognizing two local high school students for academic excellence.
Joshiekka Outlaw, a senior at Warsaw Community High School, took first place, and received a plaque and a $1,000 scholarship. Outlaw plans to attend Duke University to major in business management, and eventually to attend law school.
Shandis Stephens, a junior at Lakeland Christian Academy, was the second-place winner, and received a plaque and a $500 scholarship. She wants to attend Howard University and take pre-law.
The awards were presented by Dr. Lee Harman, vice president of the Committee to Commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Inc., and superintendent of Warsaw schools.
Dr. Thomas Stallter, chairman of the department of intercultural studies at Grace College, gave the keynote address on how to make Martin Luther King's dream a reality.
"It can't be done by legislation," he said. "It's going to take something deeper to pull together and make that work.
"People need to ask themselves, 'Who am I, why do I expect people of different ethnic backgrounds to be like me and if they're not, why do I believe they're less than me?'" he said.
Explaining the elements that define how people view life, Stallter said that when they see someone who is different from themselves, people tend to think of the different person in a negative way.
"But difference is not negative," he said.
To make Martin Luther King's dream come true, he said, "we're going to have to own that dream" and teach children the skills needed to live in a multicultural nation.
"The dream can come true, but it will (have to) start inside each of us," he said.
Students from Monarch Christian Academy performed during lunch, and special music was provided by Anitra Durand.
