Regional celebration of MLK Jr.’s life includes scholarships, awards, and a guest speaker

During his lifetime, Martin Luther King Jr. was an advocate for racial equality and human rights. He championed nonviolent resistance, inspiring the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act before he was assassinated in 1968.

Later this week, the Great Lakes Bay Region celebrates his legacy by awarding scholarships and honoring three leaders with the Martin Luther King Jr. Drum Major Award for community service.

The 2026 Martin Luther King Jr. Regional Celebration takes place at 7 p.m. Thurs., Jan. 22 at Saginaw Valley State University’s Curtiss Hall. The celebration is a partnership between SVSU, regional businesses, chambers of commerce, and community foundations. 

The 2026 Keynote Speaker is Cynthia “Cynt” Marshall, President and CEO of Marshalling Resources; the former CEO of the Dallas Mavericks; and a retired AT&T Executive. Marshall is well known as an advocate for achieving business results through inclusion, a focus on people, and operational excellence. 

Marshall is credited with spearheading the work that placed AT&T on Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For list in 2017. She was the first African-American chair of the North Carolina State Chamber of Commerce.

Her honors and awards include: the 2024 Junior Achievement Dallas Business Hall of Fame Laureate Award; the 2022 Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum Hope for Humanity Award; and, in 2021, Forbes named her as one of the 15 most inspiring female leaders in the world.

Her book, “You’ve Been Chosen,” was released in September 2022 and nominated for an NAACP Image Award. 

After Marshall’s keynote address, several awards will be given, including the Drum Major Award and the MLK Jr. Scholarship Awards.

Drum Major awards

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Drum Major Award for community service honors one person from each of the tri-counties – Bay, Midland, and Saginaw. 

The Bay County Drum Major is Nicole Luczak, United Way of Bay County President and CEO. 

Luczak says she is honored to receive the award. She hopes that her work illustrates the impact one person can have on a community.

“The work I do is always for intention and not the attention; it is driven by a desire to do my part in making our community a better place for all,” Luczak says. 

“Receiving an award that honors MLK Jr. is incredibly humbling, and my hope is that others will be inspired to ask themselves what they can do for others, the question that MLK Jr. emphasized as life’s most persistent and urgent question. Through action, volunteering, and support, we can all find a way to contribute to the greater good and make our community better.”

The Midland County Drum Major is Jennifer Vannette, Outreach Coordinator at the Castle Museum of Saginaw County History.

Vannette has similar thoughts about the award and its ability to inspire even more people to get involved in their communities.

“I am honored to receive the Drum Major Award this year,” Vannette says. 

“Being recognized for my work in teaching history is a nice reminder for myself, and perhaps for others, that when we all use our talents and passions for the pursuit of justice, we can make a difference in our communities. All of our different skills are needed.”

The Saginaw County Drum Majors are Dr. Jack and Mrs. Janet Nash.

Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Recipients

In honor of Dr. King, several community foundations have collectively established a scholarship awarded to high school seniors (regardless of ethnicity) across the region who have embraced his teachings on racial harmony and social justice. The 2025 Scholarship winners include:

From Bay County:

• Brayden Beson from Bay City Central High School plans to attend the University of Michigan to study marketing.
• Charlotte Fournier from Bay City Western High School plans to attend Delta College and study social work.
• Gage Vermeesch from Bay City Western High School plans to attend the University of Michigan and study mechanical engineering.
• Sean Wesolek from John Glenn High School plans to attend Hope College and study pre-health sciences

From Midland County:

• Ayesha Middha from H.H. Dow High School is undecided on her college. She plans to study international business.
• Chikanma Okoisor from H.H. Dow High School is undecided on her college. She plans to study electrical, computer, or environmental engineering.
• Christine Cai from H.H Dow High School plans to attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to study mathematics.
• Jessica Chai from H.H. Dow High School is undecided on her college. She plans to study biochemistry.
• Madeline Gustincic from Bullock Creek High School plans to attend the James Madison College at Michigan State University to study public policy.
• Yunying Zhang from H.H. Dow High School plans to attend the University of Michigan to study psychology and public health.

From Saginaw County:

• Audrey Hunt from St. Charles Community High School plans to attend Saginaw Valley State University to study political science.
• Elizabeth Garner from Nouvel Catholic Central High School plans to attend Central Michigan University to study pre-medical/nursing.
• Gabriella Castanon from Carrollton High School plans to attend Saginaw Valley State University to study pre-medicine.
• Jayda Brown of Saginaw Arts and Sciences Academy plans to attend Wayne State University to study elementary education.
• Michael Baldwin of Saginaw United High School is undecided on his college. He plans to study exercise science/kinesiology.
• for community service. The award honors people from Bay, Midland, and Saginaw counties.