Martin Luther King Jr. Week of Celebration

45th Anniversary: Cultivating Connection, Creating Change

January 18 – 23, 2026

The MLK Jr. Week of Celebration is a celebration of the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dating back to 1981, it is the longest-standing celebration of its kind by a university. Throughout the week, UNC students, staff, faculty, and the surrounding community engage in a series of events and speaking engagements, all with the shared mission of highlighting Dr. King’s eternal message of unity. The events are typically held around Dr. King’s birthday or the MLK holiday in January.

While today’s challenges differ from those of the past, this year’s theme, “Cultivating Connection, Creating Change,” reminded us that transformative change is possible through advocacy and collective care. By fostering meaningful connections and embracing shared responsibility, we honored the dignity and humanity of every individual in our vibrant Carolina community.

A special thank you to the 2026 Student Planning Committee for all of their hard work on this year’s event!

• Adalia Winters
• Anyla Bellamy-Bullock
• Chris Yancey
• Destiny Stewart
• Hope Merritt
• Kalie Miller
• Kianna Spruill
• Laila Rich
• Oscar Dublina
• Sydney Flewellen
• Trinity Paternson

2026 Recap

Hoops for Hunger Basketball Tournament

Jan. 18 | 12 PM | Woollen Gym

Tar Heels kicked off the week of celebration with a basketball tournament for a cause! Spectators and teams brought donations for the Carolina Cupboard.

Community Food Drive

In collaboration with PORCH, the United Way of the Triangle, and the Graduate School, UNC Students, faculty, staff, and community members banded together to donate non-perishable goods to pantries across Carrboro and Chapel Hill.

Lecture and Awards Ceremony

The MLK Jr. Lecture and Awards ceremony is an annual event where we celebrate the enduring legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. while honoring the achievements and leadership of outstanding students, faculty, and staff. This event included presentations of the MLK Jr. and Harvey Beech scholarships, the MLK Jr. Unsung Hero Awards, and a keynote address by Chief Justice (Ret.) Cheri Beasley.

Chief Justice (ret.) Cheri Beasley is a trailblazing jurist and legal leader, becoming the first African American woman to serve as Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court. Throughout her career, she has championed fair and accessible courts, guided the judiciary through crises, and implemented reforms to modernize the court system. Today, she continues her commitment to justice as the inaugural Justice Sandra Day O’Connor Professor at Elon University School of Law.

Award Recipients:

• Harvey Beech Scholarship
  • Addison Truzy
  • Chloe Coleman
  • Emily Phan
  • Hana Daher Lopes
• MLK Jr. Scholarship
  • Winner: Johna T. Speller
  • Finalist: Hannah Hayes
• Unsung Hero
  • Chrystal Starbird, Ph.D
  • Natasha Young

Community Forum

What does it mean to truly belong at UNC? We brought together a panel of students, faculty, and staff for a meaningful discussion about student belonging and community engagement. Together, we explored topics like creating welcoming spaces, fostering meaningful connections, and finding the balance between engaging in person vs. virtually.

Unity Event

We rounded out the week with a night of trivia and performances by various student organizations.

Get Involved

Scholarships and Awards

These honors recognize UNC-Chapel Hill students, faculty, staff, and community partners who embody the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through academic achievement, community service, leadership, and the advancement of civil and human rights.

MLK Unsung Hero Award:

Applications for the 2026 Week of Celebration are now closed.

Recognizes a UNC-CH staff, faculty, community partner, or corporate affiliate who fosters a welcoming and inclusive community at Carolina through their everyday work and advocacy.

MLK UNC Student Scholarship:

Applications for the 2026 Week of Celebration are now closed.

Recognizes current juniors who demonstrate academic excellence and a commitment to advancing civil and human rights in the community.

Harvey Beech Scholarship:

Applications for the 2026 Week of Celebration are now closed.

Recognizes UNC-CH students who have:

• Academic GPA improvement from the previous academic year (semester or cumulative for one year)
• Contributions to campus life
• Demonstrated financial need (impact of scholarship)

Student Planning Committee

Applications for the 2026 Week of Celebration are now closed.

The student planning committee assists in planning and coordinating MLK Week of Celebration events, including:

• Unity Event
• Day of Service
• Lecture & Awards Ceremony
• and more!

All undergraduate, graduate, and professional UNC students are eligible to apply.