Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration held at WNMU 2015

: Category: Front Page News Front Page News; Published: 19 January 2015 19 January 2015

Photos and Article by Mary Alice Murphy

Western New Mexico University student Sage Mays served as master of ceremonies for the large crowd of more than 100, who attended the Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration, which had the theme of "The Dream: What it Means to Me."

Brewer Hill Baptist Church's pastor, Rev. Earseye Ross, led off the event with prayer, after telling the audience that the event began in Silver City, eight years ago, with a small dinner to honor Martin Luther King Jr. "I was in two marches with Dr. King," Ross said. He then prayed for everyone in the room.

WNMU international students read, in their native language, portions of King's famous, "I Have A Dream" speech. Khari Bailey, U.S., read the beginning and the end in English. Alvaro Nuñez of Spain read a part translated to Spanish; Francisco Damasio of Brazil, in Portuguese; Tristan Dalio of France, in French; Doris Berberic of New Zealand in her native Serbian; Annica Betz, Germany, in German; Ganna Tuirina, Ukraine, in Ukrainian; Vladimir Gnilozubov, Kazakhstan, in Kazakh; and Omar López of Mexico in Spanish.

New Mexico Senator Howie Morales presented his thoughts on education.

"It's an honor to be here with Fred Baca (Hall of Fame inductee), an educator," Morales said. "I commend Dr. Shepard (WNMU president) because he's bringing the community together. If you look at Martin Luther King Jr., we can always learn something. We still see struggles, but service to others is so key."

Morales said he wanted to destroy two myths. "The first: 'Settling for good enough is good enough' is not good enough. We should strive for greatness. I understand education is the key to greatness."

"Dr. King stood strong for justice," Morales continued. "Leaders make a difference when they challenge the system. Another myth is that to show kindness, compassion and love is to show weakness. You must continue to show kindness, compassion and love. I ask you to continue to lead."

WNMU Regent Jerry Walz introduced the Hall of Fame Inductee, Fred Baca.

"I didn't realize the universal context of the 'I Have a Dream' speech, until I heard international students read portions in their own languages," Walz said. "The words can apply to any city or country."

He recognized the presence of Richard Peterson and Tina Ely, who were with the Silver City Daily Press, when he was on the editorial staff there.

"I know Fred's history," Walz said. "He is the most honest, has the most integrity of anyone I know, except for his exaggeration of his basketball prowess. He has said he carried his team to the city championship.

"Fred and I attended Western New Mexico University from 1970-1974," Walz continued. "We also knew one another at Silver High School. We had a lot of education courses together at Western. Fred was honored with the highest grade-point average. I was a close second. Fred was the quiet genius type. I was a self-professed genius.

"One day when we were driving down the main drag, we were discussing our futures," Walz reminisced. "I wanted to be an editor-I was majoring in journalism-and I thought I might want to go to law school. Fred said he wanted to be an elementary school teacher, the best. That was his dream. He wanted to treat every student equally. The thousands of students, who went through his classroom, have carried on his dream of equality and greatness. After he retired, he became involved in LULAC (League of United Latin American Citizens). His untiring work carries on today. His work has helped people of this community come together.

"Here is an individual, a complicated man, who stands up for truth, honesty, justice and the American way of life," Walz said. "I challenge each of you to take these ideals with you to bring fairness and equality to your fellow man."

"I accept this recognition in an appreciative, humble way," Baca said. "Congratulations to the students and their essays. I'm glad to see the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. is alive in Grant County.

"Let us not forget I wouldn't be here but for the words of Dr. King," Baca continued. "I congratulate you essay winners. The learning is in the research you did for your essay. I thought long and hard about what I would say today. Martin Luther King Jr. becomes greater with the years. I thought of his sacrifices. He put his life on the line.

"How can we put Dr. King's dream closer to us and bring it home," Baca said. "We can make it real in our own communities. What can I do? I can vote; I can become educated on how government works; I can become involved in organizations that work together to make it better.

"How can students become educated?" he asked and answered. "Read; go to every class; learn about great people, like Martin Luther King Jr.; become part of school government; treat your fellow students with kindness, respect and civility; join the Kiwanis Club in one of its school groups; join LULAC, Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts, church organizations.

"Howie and I are graduates of Sixth Street School," Baca said. "He and I are from Brewer Hill. I trust him. We have to have mentors. Jerry was my mentor. I did not do these things on my own. My wife works with me and supports me. What is your dream, student? Work hard, be disciplined and you can become great.

"When will we achieve Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream?" Baca asked. "Let us never be satisfied until everyone is treated with justice and respect."

Mays noted the decorations on the tables were made by children from the WNMU Center for Early Childhood Education."

Abe Villarreal announced that out of more than 200 esaays received, the five winners would read their essays. Vanessa Stroman presented the students with their winning medals.

The five winning essays were written by Alexys Salas, G.W. Stout Elementary third-grader; Rechelle Gutierrez, La Plata Middle School sixth grader; Cooper Miller, La Plata Middle School sixth grader; Sophia Rodriguez, 12th grader at Opportunity High School; and Daniel Flores, 12th grader at Silver High School.

Flores said, before he read his essay: "I am not here to bask in my glory. I want to give credit to all those who wrote essays."

Villarreal then presented certificates to those present who had entered essays into the contest. All the essay writers will receive certificates.

Matthew Lara of WNMU's admissions office said education is the most important thing that drives the words of Martin Luther King Jr.

"I encourage you guys to continue your education and to continue writing," Lara said to the winners and other essay writers.

"I am here to present bridge scholarships," Lara said. He explained that a bridge scholarship is an early freshman scholarship. "This award can be used in any New Mexico institution of higher education. The first semester of college is a proving semester. This bridge scholarship covers tuition and fees for the first semester before the lottery scholarship kicks in."

He presented the awards to Flores and Rodriguez.

Members of Western New Mexico University, Consilio Campesinos del Sudoeste Inc., Grant County Democratic Party, Republican Party of Grant County, and Brewer Hill Baptist Church organized the event.

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Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration held at WNMU 2015

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