The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Presidential Commission has been charged with developing and implementing one-week of programmatic initiatives that honor the life and legacy of Dr. King. The 2024 (inaugural) and 2025 events were a tremendous success! Planning is underway as the Commission develops powerful and meaningful programming for the 2026 week of events, which will take place February 2 - 7, 2026. The Keynote Address will be Friday, February 6, and The Day of Service will be Saturday, February 7.
- SUNY Fredonia would like to encourage volunteerism and celebrate giving back to the campus and local community.
- The programmatic initiatives include fireside chats with alumni and culminates with the commission bringing a prominent speaker to campus for a campus-wide and local community event.
- The SUNY Fredonia’s President appointed members to serve on the commission.
- “Everybody can be great because everybody can serve.” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
See below for details on the aforementioned events.
Contest Overview
Area high school students are encouraged to share their perspectives on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s enduring vision for an inclusive and equitable society where education serves as a powerful tool for empowerment, equality, and community growth.
Creative entries may include essays, poems, paintings, sculptures, photography, digital art, music, dance, composition, prototype, research summary, design portfolio, or other artistic forms focused on Dr King as it relates to Science, Technology, Education/Engineering, Art, Math (STEAM) projects.
Key Details
- Eligibility: Chautauqua County student residents currently in grades 9-12 (individual submissions only).
- Prizes:
- 1st Place: $150
- 2nd Place: $100
- 3rd Place: $75
Submission Process
- Submit pictures/videos of your work using this Microsoft Form by 11:59pm Monday, January 12, 2026.
- Winners will be notified by Wednesday, January 21, 2026.
- Finalists will be contacted to arrange delivery of their physical artwork if necessary.
- Award recipients will be announced during the keynote event February 6, 2026. All submissions will be displayed at the SUNY Fredonia campus. Award recipient submissions will be displayed at the keynote event.
Awards and Keynote Event
The community is warmly invited to the Keynote Address and Awards Ceremony to celebrate the contest winners and their meaningful contributions:
- Date: Friday, February 6, 2026
- Time: 3:30 PM
- Location: Rosch Recital Hall, SUNY Fredonia (Reception to follow)
- Cost: FREE and OPEN to the public
Submission Options: (Choose One)
- Essay: 750-1000 words that addresses:
- One community problem connected to Dr. King's principles (justice, service, equity) and
- A STEAM-based idea or solution to address that problem
- Include a short reflection on how your personal experiences inform this idea.
- Project/Portfolio: A STEAM project (prototype, research summary, design portfolio, photography or multimedia presentation) accompanied by a 1-page narrative describing the project, its connection to Dr. King's values, and its potential community impact. Include up to 3 images or a link to a short (3-5 minute) video demonstration, if applicable.
- Please note if submitting in the form of:
- Painting/Drawing: No larger than 24in x 36in (HxW)
- Sculpture/Ceramics: No larger than 12in x 24in x 12in (HxWxD)
- Music/Dance Performance: Submit a video (5 minutes max) along with a written description.
- Composition: Submit a video (5 minutes max) showcasing the performance with a written description.
Judging Criteria & Scoring
- Relevance to Theme of Dr. Martin Luther King's Principles - 30%
- (Does the entry clearly connect Dr. King's legacy, service, equity, justice, to the proposed idea?)
- STEAM Integration & Feasibility - 25%
- (Is the STEAM element meaningful, plausible and well-explained?)
- Originality and Creativity - 20%
- (Does the entry offer a fresh, thoughtful approach?)
- Impact & Community Engagement - 15%
- (Is the proposed solution likely to benefit the community? Are plans for outreach/implementation described?)
- Charity & Presentation - 10%
- (Well-organized, professionally presented, and free of major errors).
Judging Panel: SUNY Fredonia faculty, Dr. Martin Luther King Presidential Commission members, and community partners.
Contact Information
For questions or additional details, please contact us at MLKContest@fredonia.edu.
Join us as we honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy by celebrating the creativity and voices of our youth. Together, we can inspire conversations about education, freedom, and the path to a more equitable society.
Alumni Spotlights: Fireside Chat with Students | Williams Center Blue Lounge
This Alumni Spotlight will feature SUNY Fredonia Alumni in a Fireside Chat with
students during the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Presidential Commission week-long programmatic initiatives Monday, February 2nd - Friday, February 6th. Invited alumni will reflect on their SUNY Fredonia experiences and how the life and legacy of Dr. King impacted them in their personal life and throughout their careers. There will be a current SUNY Fredonia student facilitating the Q&A section of the program to engage with the Alumni speaker.
Monday, February 2, 2026 | 12 noon - 1:00pm:
Speaker: Markasia McCreary, '22, B.A. in Public Accounting and Business Administration–Management, Accountant, Niagara Falls City School District.
Markasia McCreary is a 2022 graduate of SUNY Fredonia, where she earned a B.A. in Public Accounting and Business Administration–Management. While at Fredonia, she overcame social anxiety and grew into leadership as Treasurer and later President of the Black Student Union, as well as Treasurer of the Accounting Society. After beginning her career as a Municipal Auditor at Drescher & Malecki LLP, she returned to her hometown of Niagara Falls, where she now serves as an accountant for the Niagara Falls City School District. Passionate about service and mentorship, Markasia leads Big Sis Lil Sis, a ministry for teen girls, and was honored in March 2025 as a Black Achiever. She is currently pursuing her MBA.
Tuesday, February 3, 2026 | 12:30pm - 1:30pm:
Speaker: Nikkie Herman, '98, B.A. Adolescence Education: English, Director of DEIJ Education, University of Rochester.
Nikkie Herman (she|her) leads a dedicated team advancing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice (DEIJ). As Director, she teaches ACUE’s Fostering a Culture of Belonging course and co-facilitates the White Affinity Group, fostering dialogue and critical reflection. With over 20 years in student affairs, Nikkie has served as Chief Diversity Officer, Title IX Coordinator, and Affirmative Action Officer, and held system-wide
leadership roles. She integrates yoga and Ayurveda into her leadership, guided by the Sanskrit principle of swastha “situated in oneself.”
Outside of work, she enjoys reading, gardening, and collage art, and shares her life with her spouse, two teens, and two Old English Sheepdogs.
Wednesday, February 4, 2026 | 12 noon - 1:00pm:
Speaker: Dr. Remi Adelaiye-Ogala, '09, B.S. Biochemistry, Assistant Professor of Medicine and Clinical Assistant Professor of Urology at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo
Dr. Adelaiye-Ogala is an Assistant Professor of Medicine and Clinical Assistant Professor of Urology at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo. Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo. She earned her Ph.D. in Cancer Pathology from the Roswell Park Cancer Institute Division of UB and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in prostate cancer genetics and epigenetics at the National Cancer Institute, NIH. Her research examines mechanisms of therapeutic resistance in genitourinary cancers to improve long-term clinical outcomes. She also serves on UB’s CTSI K Scholar Program Leadership Team and mentors Ph.D. students through the Initiative for Maximizing Student Development (IMSD) program.
Thursday, February 5, 2026 | 12:30pm - 1:30pm:
Speaker: Zyris McCormick, '11, B.A. Criminal Justice, Real Estate Agent, Mootry, Murphy & Burgin Realty Group
As a proud Buffalo native, Zyris is deeply committed to the growth and well-being of his community. A SUNY Fredonia graduate, he has built a career across multiple industries in Western New York, always guided by a service-driven mindset. His work supporting at-risk youth, seniors, individuals with disabilities, and low-income families shaped his belief that people, not transactions, matter most. Today, as a real estate agent with Mootry, Murphy & Burgin Realty Group, Zyris brings that same dedication to helping clients navigate the buying and selling process with personalized, transparent, and stress-free service, fostering lasting relationships rooted in trust and care.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Presidential Commission - Keynote Address
Friday, February 6, 2026, Rosche Recital Hall
FRANK S. WILLIAMS
Frank S. Williams, a native of Buffalo, NY, was educated in the Buffalo Public School system, and is a 1993 graduate of Bennett High School. Frank holds a Master of Education in College Student Services & Development from the University at Buffalo (1999). He also earned a Bachelor of Arts, with a major in Secondary English Education, and a minor in Sociology, from the State University of New York College at Fredonia (1997).
Frank has worked in higher education for 25 years serving students as a Career Counselor at the University at Buffalo, a Hall Director and Judicial Officer at SUNY Brockport, a Transfer Coordinator and Assistant Director of Admissions at SUNY Fredonia, a Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) Counselor at Buffalo State College, a Vice President for Enrollment Management at Daemen University, Director of Student Support Services at the University at Buffalo, a Vice President for Strategic Enrollment Management and Associate Vice President for Advanced Enrollment and Partnerships at Nazareth University.
Currently, Frank serves as an Associate Minister at Greater Works Fellowship Church and is a Licensed Realtor with Howard Hanna.
Frank’s professional involvement extends to the state and national level, with an executive board position as private school representative of the New York State Transfer and Articulation Association (NYSTAA); membership in the New York State Association for College Admissions Counselors (NYSACAC); and the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC). Frank also completed an Enrollment Leadership Academy with The College Board a Certificate and a Leadership in Enrollment Management Certificate from the Rossier School of Education at the University of Southern California (USC).
Understanding the importance of education, Frank regularly presents in Western New York, throughout the state and nationally speaking to students, parents, and educators with the goal of increasing the college going community.
Frank is an active member of Greater Works Fellowship Church where he serves as an associate minister. In January of 2011, he accepted the call on his life and became an Elder at Redeeming Fire Fellowship Church, and in 2013, was licensed as a minister of the Gospel.
Frank is also a loving father of 4 boys: Elijah (Senior at St. John Fisher University), Isaiah (Junior at Niagara University), Jonah (Freshman at North Carolina A&T) and Ryan (Freshmen in High School)
Volunteer Opportunity Information for 2026 Will Be Posted in Fall 2025. Please Check Back For Updated Content.
The SUNY Fredonia Presidential Commission for the Commemoration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. will come together to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. King on Saturday, February 7, 2026. The community service sub-committee will host this 'Saturday of Service' to unite SUNY Fredonia with our local non-profit organizations to facilitate volunteerism.
This is an opportunity for campus to come together to give back to the campus and local community. We hope this will be a start of a forever friendship with local non-profit organizations. Listed below are organizations that The Commission partnered with last year. Updates for the 2026 year will be posted in fall 2025.
- Chautauqua County Rural Ministry, Inc.
- Community Service Activity - Assistance with Food Pantry and Garment Gallery.
- Habitat For Humanity
- Community Service Activity - Home Construction Project.
- Lakeshore Humane Society
- Community Service Activity - Assistance with Walking Dogs and Bathing Dogs.
- The Salvation Army
- Community Service Activity - Painting.
- Prevention Works:
- Community Service Activity - General Office Tasks.
- Co-Chair Dr. Vicki T. Sapp, Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer
- Co-Chair Dr. Tracy L. Stenger, Vice President for Student Affairs
- Ivory Brooks, Mental Health Counselor, Counseling Center
- Dr. Wentao Cao, Assistant Professor, Department of Geology and Environmental Sciences
- Jiyong Mai, Assistant Professor, Department of Music
- Mark Suida, Director Campus Life, Student Affairs
- Christian Taber, Graduate Assistant Resident Director, Sound Recording Technology major
Many thanks for the generous support of the following sponsors!
- Carnahan Jackson Humanities Fund | Fredonia College Foundation
- Collingwood Diversity Endowment Fund | Fredonia College Foundation
- Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation
- Partners for Campus-Community Engagement (PCCE)