Wooster community celebrates Dr. Martin Luther King
To celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the College of Wooster and the Wooster City School District combined efforts in a morning of events and seminars at the College of Wooster on Jan. 19 to explore racial and societal issues, as well as recognize the legacy of Dr. King.
The effort was described by Wooster City Schools Superintendent Dr. Michael Tefs as, “an attempt to be more purposeful and strategic for the week leading up to the holiday and the actual MLK Day.”
Tefs also sees the collaboration as a way to bring unity in the line-up of events in the community celebrating Dr. King’s life and legacy saying, “This marks the first year for a collective and coordinated effort.”
The day opened with a morning college and community-wide assembly in McGaw Chapel at the College of Wooster followed by numerous seminars throughout the College of Wooster Campus.
WHS students Grace Cheng (12), David Burnett (12) and Makayla Williams (9) were recognized at the morning assembly for placing first, second and third, respectively, in the essay competition commemorating Dr. King organized by the Wooster and Orrville NAACP.
The students were also awarded cash prizes and plaques, according to WHS Guidance Counselor Cheryl Goff, who served as the WHS representative to the collaboration.
Goff found the collaboration fulfilling, saying, “It has been extremely rewarding to see the participation of the students. Dr. Martin L. King’s holiday is not just a day to have off from school or work; it is a day to serve others.”
Polly Fenton, Edgewood Middle School language arts teacher and gifted intervention specialist, echoed Goff’s enthusiasm for the inaugural year of the collaboration, saying she is, “hopeful that this is just the beginning for the collaboration.”
Fenton and Goff comprised half of the WCS representatives in the collaboration which also included Melrose and Parkview Elementary teacher Ashley Bowman and Parkview Elementary third grade teacher Jamie Morris, according to the Wooster City Schools website.
Tefs sees the events as an important way to incorporate education into a day off from school.
“Dr. King’s birthday leverages a terrific opportunity to reflect and discuss race, social justice and reconciliation in our nation,” Tefs said.
Goff, Tefs and Fenton all supported the continuation of the celebration and the collaboration with the College of Wooster.
