St. Philip's College Participates in 2009 Martin Luther King, Jr. March

Nation’s largest MLK march passes the campus; college supports with marchers, facilities and more

SPC at Martin Luther King, Jr. March

(SPC Images): St. Philip’s College hosts exciting elements of the City of San Antonio’s annual Martin Luther King, Jr. March program Jan. 15 to Jan. 19, 2009. The 2008 event featured marchers from the college and a Commemorative program introduction from SPC President Dr. Adena Williams Loston (right) for guest speaker Terence Roberts (left).

SAN ANTONIO (Jan. 14, 2009) --- St. Philip’s College hosts exciting elements of the City of San Antonio’s annual Martin Luther King, Jr. March program Jan. 15 to Jan. 19.

This March attracts national attention because it is regarded as America’s largest MLK March. The college plans to have marchers in the event that will pass its main campus. An estimated 100,000 marchers will see the college’s newest building, an inspiring visual for an event themed Education: March from the Dream to Reality. Marchers will be greeted by college personnel at the St. Philip’s Booth at the MLK Commemorative Program Jan. 19 at noon at Pittman-Sullivan Park on 1101 Iowa. The college has arranged for the KRTU radio station to cover the March live from the campus on 1801 Martin Luther King Drive. Members of the St. Philip’s Fine Arts Department choirs and some members from local community church choirs are also part of the program depicting Harriet Tubman and the historic Underground Railroad. 

This year the college has two representatives on the MLK Scholarship Committee. In a process that spans several months, Patricia Williams and Pearl Conyers of St. Philip’s College will help the Committee select students for approximately $20,000 in scholarships, said Dorothy Lee Collins, City of San Antonio MLK, Jr. Scholarship Committee Chairman.

“I’m always elated to work with professionals in higher education,” said Collins. “Having St. Philip’s personnel on our committee gives us a broader perspective of membership,” Collins said. “It’s wonderful to have this level of professionals working with us in addition to elementary and secondary school professionals, engineers, judges and other citizens of diverse backgrounds,” said Collins.

The college also hosts the Hip Hop Summit Poster Making Event Jan. 19 at 10 a.m. at the Watson Fine Arts Center’s Ceramics Classroom on 1801 Martin Luther King Drive, followed by the Hip Hop Youth Summit also Jan 19 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Watson and additional campus buildings.

The Poster Making event is more than a routine program where 120 youth express views on world events and Dr. King through posters they design during the Hip Hop Youth Summit. The college’s Fine Arts Program will open a professional art studio for exclusive use by these students. The contact for participation in this event is Linda Tippins at (210) 818-7135 or ltippins@safb.org

Youth Summit participants explore the influences of youth culture on current events through workshops and panel discussions. Registration is at 10 a.m. The event contact is Joc Arch (210) 723-6147.