Author of "The Butler" — Wil Haygood, to be MLK Speaker
Wil Haygood has accepted the University’s invitation to be our 2014 MLK Convocation speaker. Haygood has gotten much acclaim recently for his part in bringing Lee Daniels’ The Butler to movie screens everywhere.
It was Haygood’s story — written during President Obama’s first campaign — about White House butler Eugene Allen that formed the basis for the very popular movie, starring Forest Whitaker. Mr. Allen served eight presidents over 34 years and was truly “a witness to history.”
In keeping with that theme, the focus of this year’s MLK Observance will be “Witness to History: Everyday Revolutions & the Struggle for Justice.”
This year's celebration features an all-new format for Convocation, on Thursday, featuring an awards presentation to this year's Vision Award and Connecticut Post Essay Contest winners. Congratulations to the following who have demonstrated a commitment to the ideals of Martin Luther King, Jr. in their own lives and work.
Vision Awards
STUDENT: Eric Solgado ’14
FACULTY: Dr. Yohuru Williams, Faculty Member in Applied Ethics
STAFF: Jocelyn Collen, Campus Minister
LAFARGE AWARD: Todd Pelazza, Director, Department of Public Safety
Connecticut Post Essay Contest Winners
First Prize - Chasity Kennedy, Grade 8, St. AnnAcademy
Second Prize - Calen Razor, Grade 8, John Winthrop School
Third Prize - Abigail Cloud, Grade 7, Multicultural Magnet School
Schedule of Events
Some of the week's can't-miss events include a free movie screening of The Butler on January 24 and January 28, the Memorial March on January 28 at 2 p.m., and Convocation, on Thursday, January 30 at 7 p.m.
See The Butler movie trailer:
