2023 MLK Jr. Celebration
Watch the highlights and speeches from the OSU/City of Stillwater 2022 MLK Jr. Day March.
2023 MLK Jr. Celebration
The OSU MLK Jr. Celebration Committee, Division of Student Affairs and the Division of Institutional Diversity invite you to join us in celebrating one of the most influential civil rights activists
and leaders in U.S. history, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. To honor Dr. King's
legacy, we will sponsor events and contests open to all OSU students, faculty and
staff.
This year's celebration will include a peaceful march in partnership with the City of Stillwater and the OSU community; a keynote address by actor, writer, director and producer
Jay Ellis; community service opportunities and more.
An Evening with Jay Ellis
Join us at The McKnight Center for the Performing Arts | Jan. 19
We look forward to welcoming noted actor Jay Ellis to share his compelling story of
how the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. impacted his career. Inside OSU's Meghan Robinson will host a Q&A session with Ellis at 6 p.m. This event is sponsored
by OSU Speakers Board and The McKnight Center for the Performing Arts.
Ellis is an LA-based actor, writer, director and producer. He played ‘Lawrence’ on
HBO’s critically acclaimed, Golden Globe-nominated series Insecure, created by Issa Rae and Larry Wilmore. Jay was also most recently seen in the blockbuster
hit Top Gun: Maverick, where he starred alongside Tom Cruise.
Jay won a 2018 NAACP Image Award for “Outstanding Supporting Actor” in a Comedy Series.
He has also served as a spokesman for National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day,
Tré Smith
MLK Jr. Day March Student Keynote Speaker | Jan. 16
Tré Smith is a proud Oklahoman, raised in Sand Springs, Oklahoma, just west of Tulsa.
He will be graduating in December 2022 from OSU with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural
communications and minors in marketing and Africana studies. Tré is passionate about
Black history and honoring the sacrifices made by past leaders who worked tirelessly
for future generations to have the opportunities that they do today. He has held numerous
leadership roles on and off campus, often with a strong focus on agricultural advocacy.
Smith is also an entrepreneur who recently launched TreBee Farms LLC, where he and a team of young leaders inspire, encourage and instill confidence
in young people to know that their dreams can become a reality. Tré is honored to
be the MLK Jr. Day student keynote speaker and will deliver his speech on the steps
of The McKnight Center for the Performing Arts following the march.
Brittanie Cannon
Student Singer | Jan. 16
Brittanie Cannon is a psychology junior with a minor in pre-counseling. Her hobbies
include worship, volunteering with the youth in her church and spending time with
her family. Cannon will perform in front of Spears School of Business ahead of the start of the march.
Connecting the Cowboy Code
As part of the 2023 MLK Jr. Celebration, the Student Affairs Programming Committee
will be placing poster boards across campus with questions such as, "What does the Cowboy Code mean to you?", "How do you care for your fellow Cowboys?" and "How do fellow Cowboys inspire you to chase your dreams?"
These posters can be found at the Student Union, Edmon Low Library, Colvin Center,
Residence Halls and the Joe & Connie Mitchell Academic Enhancement Center from Jan.
16-19th. We encourage students to take a post-it and leave their response. The boards
will then be on display in the McKnight Center for Performing Arts lobby for An Evening
with Jay Ellis at 6 p.m. on Jan. 19th.
It takes a village
MLK Celebration Committee and Sponsors
A great deal of care, time, creativity and hard work goes into the planning our annual
MLK Jr. Celebration. The efforts of those listed at the link below makes each of the
events and activities possible.
Celebrating and honoringDr. Martin Luther King Jr.
