Nearly 45 years after approximately 250,000 people participated in the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, during which Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech, the Nicholls community as well as the local community will honor King’s life with celebrations including marches on and off campus. The Lafourche Parish Branch NAACP will hold its annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration Jan. 21, which will focus on this year’s theme, “Rededicating Ourselves to the Struggle.”

The commemoration begins at 8 a.m. at the MLK Park pavilion, 1445 Martin Luther King Dr., with a speech by Student Government Association President Olinda Ricard and a presentation of awards to winners of the Martin Luther King Jr. essay contest. The winners of the contest then will read their essays.

Then participants will march to the St. Luke Community Center on Narrow Street where the Rev. Monya Stubbs, assistant professor at Austin Presbyterian Seminary in Austin, Texas, will deliver the keynote address on this year’s theme. Stubbs is an author and ordained Elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

In addition to the NAACP celebration, students may also join Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity in a candlelight vigil march beginning with a presentation at 7 p.m. Jan. 22 in Peltier Auditorium. Felicia Harry, mass communication instructor, will give the keynote speech.

Alpha Phi Alpha President Spartacus Brown said the presentation is meant to show respect for King and “the values and principles he so valiantly fought for.