Thompson Receives 2019 MLK Humanitarian Award

Lebanon, IL (01/25/2019) — Dr. Lauren Thompson, assistant professor of history, is the faculty recipient of McKendree University's 2019 Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian Award, which celebrates the spirit and legacy of the Reverend Dr. King. Recipients demonstrate care and compassion, understanding and tolerance, humanitarian principles and ideals, civic engagement, and participation in service programs.

Thompson chairs the SLATE Diversity Subcommittee on campus, is a member of the Social Justice and Equity Committee, and a tireless advocate for students of color and for social justice and equity. Colleagues noted her passionate, dedicated commitment to civic engagement and to interrupting the silence around difficult conversations about issues related to race and racism.

Before the Jan. 24 awards presentation, keynote speaker Angie Thomas, author of "The Hate U Give," addressed a sold out crowd at the Hettenhausen Center for the Arts on campus. Thomas' bestselling young adult novel was made into a popular feature film in 2018, both of which earned critical praise. She spoke on "Finding Your Activism and Turning the Political into the Personal."

"My challenge to you is, find your voice, find your activism, get involved, create the change you want to see…. be the light in the darkness," said the author.

In addition to Dr. Thompson, two student social justice leaders also received 2019 MLK Humanitarian Awards: Naeelah Chism, a senior from Fairview Heights, Ill., majoring in political science with minors in gender and legal studies; and Ebony Luster, a senior from Cahokia, Ill., majoring in secondary education with a focus on English and a minor in psychology.

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