Christen Irving
On Friday, Moreno Valley College (MVC) brought together students, staff, and community supporters to celebrate the enduring legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at the 12th Annual Scholarship Ceremony and Breakfast, titled The Thunder of Discontent: The Fierceness of Now!. The event, held at the Moreno Valley Conference and Recreation Center , was more than just a gathering—it was a powerful celebration of voices for social justice and a reaffirmation of Dr. King’s vision.
Micki Grayson, Director of TRIO Programs at MVC and Co-chair of the MLK Committee, set the tone for the ceremony with a poignant address. Quoting Dr. King, she opened with, “The issues of civil rights cannot be separated from the issues of peace.” Grayson went on to highlight the many challenges Dr. King confronted—government policies, segregation, and systemic inequalities—while connecting those struggles to contemporary issues such as economic disparities, immigration, and police brutality affecting Black and Brown communities. “The scholarship program not only provides financial assistance but also empowers students to become active participants in the pursuit of social justice,” she emphasized. “We honor those students who are committed to addressing systemic inequities and fostering meaningful change within our communities.”
The event honored outstanding students, including four essay competition winners (Leah Dykes, Jazae-Zehra Rizvi, Owen Perez, and Joslyn Natalia Mendez-Cerritos), three speech competition winners (Kyla Thompson, Savion Cooper, and Daicia Bradberry), and one MLK Legacy Award recipient: retired professor James Banks.
Two speech competition winners were invited to share their award-winning reflections. Kyla Thompson delivered a heartfelt account of losing her daughter and how racism within the healthcare system delayed a critical diagnosis. Her moving testimony underscored the ongoing relevance of Dr. King’s fight against systemic discrimination. Savion Cooper followed with an impassioned critique of Project 2025, a controversial initiative seeking to erase key elements of history from educational curriculums. He also spoke of the necessity of preserving and protecting Dr. King’s legacy for future generations.
The ceremony also featured a tribute to James Banks, the MLK Legacy Award honoree. A slideshow highlighted the lives he has touched, while Micki Grayson praised him as “a powerful, phenomenal pillar.” Banks, in turn, expressed gratitude to his parents, sharing a lesson he learned from his father: “It’s not important that people like you; it’s important that people respect you.”
The event concluded with a stirring original poem, posing questions that called on attendees to reflect on their own roles in shaping the future: “What foundation are we laying down? What do you want your legacy to be?” The ceremony closed with remarks from interim president FeRita Carter, Ph.D., who thanked the community, stating, “We would not be able to do what we do without the support of the community.”
The 12th Annual Scholarship Ceremony and Breakfast was a testament to the enduring power of Dr. King’s vision and a reminder of the collective responsibility to continue striving for justice, equality, and meaningful change.