Building History: Continuing the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The year 2024 marks the 60th anniversary of Dr. King’s visit to Arizona where he championed the enactment of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. The 2024 Centennial Lecture will honor this anniversary and will feature a community expo at 5:00pm that will include local organizations, music, and refreshments, followed by a moderated conversation with Dr. Bernice A. King at 6:30pm.

2024 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration: The mission of the ASU Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Committee is to celebrate the legacy and the tenets set forth by Dr. King and his life examples of servant-leadership. Servant-leadership encourages collaboration, trust, foresight, listening and the ethical use of power and empowerment. The ASU Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Committee encourages the continuation of Dr. King’s legacy all year long

History of the Lecture: In 1985, the Flinn Foundation established an endowment to commemorate the University’s 100th year. The gift created the ASU Centennial Lecture, and in 1989 it provided the Barrett Honors College the resources to bring some of the world’s most influential intellects to campus. In just a few short years, the Centennial Lecture has become one of ASU’s premier intellectual events featuring noted diplomats, scientists, playwrights, and authors. Each person chosen as the Centennial Lecturer has added significantly to the strength of the University, and each has provided students and members of the community with a memorable experience.

History of Barrett: Barrett, The Honors College was founded in 1988 by an act of the Arizona Board of Regents and was given an endowment in 2000 by Craig and Barbara Barrett, noted leaders in industry, education, and public service. Since its inception 36 years ago, fueled by the Barrett endowment and ASU’s commitment to excellence in honors education, Barrett has become a pre-eminent four-year residential honors college. Barrett routinely attracts outstanding students locally, nationally and internationally to four campuses of ASU and online. Barrett is among the top 10 institutions for attracting National Scholars. Its living and learning community provides a perfect synergy for students to exercise and challenge their intellects while pursuing outstanding educational opportunities. Barrett students regularly receive record numbers of nationally competitive scholarships such as Fulbright, Boren, Goldwater, Truman, and Udall awards. Since 2000, only Harvard and Yale have named more students to the USA Today All-USA College Academic Teams. In 2005, Reader’s Digest named Barrett “Best in America” in university honors education. In 2015, the New York Times called Barrett “the gold standard” among honors colleges in the nation.