Since 2023, Penn State Harrisburg has hosted a regional Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Banquet to increase community engagement between local organizations, businesses, and community members, strengthen community bonds, and foster a sense of unity and collective responsibility toward Dr. King’s vision of a more just and equitable society.
As a higher education institution, the college recognizes the power of education and the unyielding pursuit of equal opportunities for all and is committed to improving the lives of the region’s youth and community. As such, Penn State Harrisburg will use the banquet to bring together individuals from various cultural, ethnic, and socio-economic backgrounds, fostering a sense of unity and inclusivity within the region to honor Dr. King’s legacy and promote his values in a tangible and impactful manner through scholarships.
Additionally, Penn State Harrisburg hopes to use the net proceeds from the Commemorative Banquet to raise funds to provide financial support to Harrisburg area students. Tentatively titled the Greater Harrisburg Civic Partnership Scholarship, these funds will provide additional financial support for deserving Pell-eligible students who graduated from a high school within the Greater Harrisburg Region and attend Penn State Harrisburg. In keeping with Dr. King’s service philosophy, we will actively encourage -- and help facilitate -- scholarship recipients to give back to their communities by engaging in one or more service projects to encourage civic responsibility.
Penn State Harrisburg is dedicated to breaking barriers and creating pathways for access and success for all learners. Through scholarships, we are shaping the next generation of entrepreneurs, educators, engineers, doctors, artists, and activists who will address our world’s most complex challenges. By supporting our aspiring students, we advocate for Dr. King’s dream of a society where one’s character and abilities, rather than one’s financial background, determine their opportunities.
To learn more about opportunities to sponsor the MLK Commemorative Banquet and/or contribute to this effort, contact Dr. Wanda B. Knight, Assistant Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, via email to [email protected].