UCM Honors Dr. King’s Legacy With Freedom Scholarship Banquet, Volunteer Opportunities

From left, Warrensburg Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Suzanne Taylor, Community Service Award recipient
Delores “Dee” Hudson, Chamber Chair Melissa Werner, and Hitomi Lamirande, Event and Training Coordinator for UCM
Meeting and Conference Services. High School Community Service Award recipient Abby Miller was unable to attend.

 

Numerous activities are planned in January to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as part of the University of Central Missouri’s (UCM) 2026 MLK Celebration, with the theme “From Dream to Reality: Building the Beloved Community.”

The highlight of the university’s MLK Celebration is the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Scholarship Banquet Celebration on Tuesday, Jan. 20 in the Elliott Student Union ballrooms. 

The annual event features an inspiring program with vocal and dance performances by UCM students and community members, as well as the 2026 MLK Freedom Scholarships presentation. Those in attendance can also view works of art by local students inspired by Dr. King’s message. Tickets are required, and all funds raised go directly to deserving UCM undergraduate students through Freedom Scholarships.

UCM Lee’s Summit will host an MLK Celebration at 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 23 at the Missouri Innovation Campus. The event will include faculty and student awards and the presentation of the MLK Art Contest award to a Lee's Summit R-VII School District student.

For more information about the Warrensburg event, contact Lover Chancler at chancler@ucmo.edu. For more information about the Lee’s Summit event, contact Rick Smetana at smetana@ucmo.edu.

The university’s MLK Celebration events include numerous ways to give back to the Warrensburg and Lee’s Summit communities.

Campus and community members can visit the Volunteer Fair from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 21 in the Elliott Student Union atrium. Attendees can meet with a wide variety of community partners seeking help to fulfill their missions.

UCM will have two Days of Service: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 22 in the Elliott Student Union ballrooms and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, Jan. 23 at the Missouri Innovation Campus. Volunteers will complete service projects to benefit the community.

The event schedule wraps up with a blood drive from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Jan. 26 (Elliott Student Union 240) and Tuesday, Jan. 27 (Student Recreation and Wellness Center lower west court). Appointments are preferred, but walk-ins are accepted as time and available staff allow. Registration is available at savealifenow.org/group using code SZ.

For more information about the volunteer fair, days of service and blood drive, contact Kristie Brinkley at kbrinkley@ucmo.edu.

The MLK Celebration began with the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Service Awards luncheon, hosted by the Warrensburg Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, Jan. 14 at First United Methodist Church.

The awards, co-sponsored by the Warrensburg Chamber and UCM’s The Center, honor community members who exemplify humanitarianism, leadership and selfless service. Warrensburg resident Delores “Dee” Hudson received the Community Service Award, and Holden High School student Abby Miller received the High School Community Service Award. 

Hudson has dedicated her life to service, leadership and equity in Warrensburg since 1976. A trailblazer in public service, Hudson was Warrensburg’s first female council member and mayor, serving 12 years on the City Council and six years as mayor.

Her leadership extends to health care advocacy through the Western Missouri Medical Center Foundation, where she helped raise more than $2 million to expand access to advanced medical services. Hudson has also served at the state and national levels through the Missouri Municipal League, National League of Cities and the UCM Board of Governors.

Hudson’s lifelong commitment to improving lives reflects Dr. King’s vision of unity, justice and service-driven leadership.

A scholar-athlete and service leader, Miller organizes fundraisers, supports Special Olympians, and serves in FBLA, Student Council and Unified Prom initiatives at Holden High School.

The program also featured guest speaker Bob Lotspeich, president of the Warrensburg School Foundation and voice of the Warrensburg High School Tigers. Lotspeich, affectionately known as “Tiger Bob,” has been a champion for students and education for decades and thanked the award nominees for their dedication to Warrensburg.

 

For more information and a full schedule of events, visit ucmo.edu/mlk.