UAF hosts celebration honoring MLK Jr.
Story and photos by Aaron Thomas
The Lathrop and West Valley high school choirs perform the national anthem.
In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. and his legacy of civil rights activism and coalition building, the University of Alaska Fairbanks hosted a celebratory event Saturday led by the MLK Jr. Foundation of Fairbanks. The event reflected on King’s life and the continuing process of realizing his hopes and ideals for the nation.
“Carrying the dream forward doesn’t always happen in marches and microphones. Sometimes it happens quietly in classrooms, workplaces, the kitchen table, and in the decision not to give up when life is hard,” White said.
Martha A.C. White, a former rocket scientist who now specializes in energy and oil, was the event's keynote speaker. She earned bachelor's degrees from Grambling State University and Alabama A&M in addition to a masters degree in engineering management from the University of Alaska Anchorage. She has helped conduct vital work across Alaska’s energy grid as well as work on the Alaskan pipeline.
Charles G. Stevenson receives the MLK Jr. Community Service Award.
White’s speech outlined her own journey in education and her extraordinary career in STEM fields. She spoke about the importance of all community members coming together to show grace and mutual respect to each other.
She stressed the importance of education and giving children opportunities to pursue careers in STEM. White stressed that education should be an opportunity for children to understand who they could be and the potential that the have in life.
White also spoke about the value of perseverance in the face of adversity. Throughout her career, she has used challenges such as layoffs to reinvent herself and grow.
“So many young people don’t lack ability, they lack exposure,” White said.
Charles G. Stevenson and Benno Cleveland were the event’s two recipients of the Martin Luther King Community Service Award.
Brigadier General Charles G. Stevenson has a decorated history in both the military and the Fairbanks community. Stevenson graduated from Monroe High School and earned two degrees from UAF. He then went on to graduate from the Academy of Military Science at the McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base in Knoxville in 1993, after which he was commissioned as a second lieutenant. He was promoted to a Brigadier General on Oct. 16, 2016 after nearly 25 years of service.
Benno Cleveland receives the MLK Jr. Community Service Award.
Stevenson has received numerous awards for his achievements in the military, including the Air Force Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and several others.
In his speech, Stevenson reflected on his long career in the military and thanked his wife and family for their support.
Benno Cleveland is a community figure and US army veteran. Cleveland was deployed to Vietnam in 1969 where he served as an infantryman and was awarded a Purple Heart after being wounded in combat. Cleveland was also inducted into the Chapel of the Four Chaplains in 2013, an organization that seeks to promote interfaith coalitions, selfless service, and honor those who have served in the military. He currently serves as the president of the Alaska Native Veterans Association and the leader of Alaska’s Color Guard.
The night featured a performance by the Pavva Iñupiaq Dancers, the Lathrop and West Valley high school choirs, and two local musicians that went by DJ and LJ.
The night served as a reminder of Alaska’s history of civil rights activism as well as the impact of Martin Luther King Jr. on the nation and the world.