Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration

The first citywide celebration to commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. took place in the year 1996. A dedicated group of University and community members who thought it was important to remember the great words and works of this special man, organized an evening to honor the slain civil rights leader. The event was originally sponsored by the Oshkosh Human Relation Council under the committed direction of it's co-chairs, James Mather and Karen Bowen. The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh has supported the event as did the City of Oshkosh until 2006. The Oshkosh Community Foundation began their support in 2003 and continues as does the Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce who came on board with much needed assistance in 2005.

Throughout the years, Dr. Muriel Hawkins from the University has found wonderful talents to perform at the Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration. Storytellers, theater ensembles, jazz groups, dancers, singers, pianists and percussionists from Chicago, Milwaukee, and as far away as South Carolina have amazed the large audiences each year.

At the first event, Tony Palmeri and the Celebration Subcommittee of the Oshkosh Human Relations Council instituted the Diversity Award. The committee wished to recognize a person in Oshkosh who "goes above and beyond the call of duty and displays: Consistent demonstration of, appreciation for, and integration of persons, who by their race, creed, age, national origin, gender, disability, or sexual orientation, represent the richness of the community in the affairs of the business, agency, or institution." The 1996 recipient of the Award was Rick Rego, a Merrill Elementary school teacher. In following years, the deserving Diversity Award recipients have included other teachers, administrators, advocates, translators, a newspaper columnist, and clergy.
They are:

• 1996: Richard Rego
• 1997: Dave and Jean Conover
• 1998: Steve and Joan Suhm
• 1999: Mai Houa Lor
• 2000: Lori Sween
• 2001: Lois Miranda
• 2002: Yolanda Delaney
• 2003: Patti Vickman
• 2004: Hlee Vang
• 2005: Robert Poeschel
• 2006: Revs. Ralph and Carol DiBiasio-Snyder
• 2007: Carolyn Blassingame

The award is now the One Oshkosh Celebration of Diversity Award and will continue to be awarded to a deserving community member each year at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration. Nomination forms and further information may be found on this website.

The One Oshkosh Celebration of Diversity Award criteria directs it to recognize a person (or couple) who have done something remarkable to make Oshkosh a more welcoming community. In 2004, The Oshkosh Northwestern instituted their own Diversity Award which has recognized an organization that has impacted diversity in our community in a positive way.
The Northwestern's Diversity Awards have been given to:

• 2004: The Oshkosh Human Relations Council
• 2005: The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh
• 2006: The Winnebago County Literacy Council
• 2007: The Boys and Girls Club of Oshkosh

At the 2003 Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration, an essay contest on the topic "What Can I Do to Make Dr. King's Dream Come True?" was introduced. Nearly 100 Oshkosh School District students in grades 4 through 12 submitted 300-500 word pieces for the essay contest which was judged by a panel including representatives from UW Oshkosh and the community. The essay contest has become an annual feature at the celebration where the essay award winners are recognized in person, on stage. Their thoughtful essays have been printed in past years in the Oshkosh Northwestern and on their web site. At the 2006 event, Nicole Herkert, then a 5th grader at Webster Stanley Elementary School, wrote: "Here are three ways I will keep Dr. King's dream alive: by respecting others, caring for others and standing up for what I think is right.....Everyone is equal so treat everyone the same."

2008 marks the 40 year anniversary of Dr. King's death. Most will agree that many positive steps toward fulfilling Dr. King's dreams have been taken during that time. Most of us also understand that there is still much to be done. In The Meaning of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday by Coretta Scott King, she states: "The King holiday honors the life and contributions of America's greatest champion of racial justice and equality, the leader who not only dreamed of a color-blind society, but who also lead a movement that achieved historic reforms to help make it a reality.On this day we commemorate Dr. king's great dream of a vibrant, multiracial nation united in justice, peace and reconciliation; a nation that has a place at the table for children of every race and room at the inn for every needy child. We are called on this holiday, not merely to honor, but to celebrate the values of equality, tolerance and interracial sister and brotherhood he so compellingly expresed in his great dream for America."