During the annual ONE DREAM Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration in January at the Lied Center of Kansas, Lawrence Public Schools honors students, school staff, and community members with the annual MLK Awards for making a positive difference in their schools and the greater community.

MLK Heart of Service Award - Presented to student, staff, and community members and/or groups making a significant impact on the community through volunteering and/or going above and beyond job responsibilities. Criteria include: Consistent and current service within the last 12 months; Displays humility, integrity, commitment, and courage; Significant impact on nominator; Significant impact on those served; Work done in the spirit of Dr. King's legacy.

MLK Character Award - Presented to students (Pre-K, elementary, middle school, and high school) who demonstrate character through the maintenance of integrity and the balance of respect and responsibility. Criteria include acceptance, citizenship, compassion, courage, humility, integrity, perseverance, positive influence, respect, and responsibility.

MLK Dreamer's Award - Presented to a student and an adult who have courage to envision change and encourage change among friends, family, and community. Criteria include commitment to their dream, displays vision, inspiration to others, unique talent or effort that effects change, and working to improve the world around them.

MLK Champion of Equity Award - Presented to students, staff and community members for their compassionate and courageous efforts to create a diverse community and to bring about systemic change aimed at promoting justice and equity. Criteria include compassion, courage, culturally relevant teaching, equity leader, and persistence.

Congratulations, recent recipients!

MLK Heart of Service Award 

Student:

2022 Landry Wilson, Deerfield Elementary 

Staff:

2022 Katie Hutchison, Lawrence High School teacher

2021 Samantha Saltz, New York Elementary teacher

MLK Character Awards

Elementary:

2022 Echo Deer, Broken Arrow Elementary

2021 Jakobe Davis, Woodlawn Elementary

High School:

2022 Litzy Torres-Zepeda, Lawrence High

2021 Ja'Kiyia Carson, Free State High

MLK Dreamer's Awards

Student:

2022 Shreya Bhakta and Anotida Chikanda, Free State High

2021 Yahaira Dominguez, Lawrence High 

Adult:

2022 Steve Cadue, community advocate for Indigenous people

2021 Rosina Aguirre, Lawrence High teacher

MLK Champion of Equity Award

Student:

2021 Hamza Asuku, Lawrence High

Staff:

Dr. Danica Moore, district equity facilitator

Community:

Cody Charles, community advocate and Haus of McCoy founder