LR introduces equity award to honor MLK

On January 20, the third annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration at Lenoir-Rhyne University introduced a new tradition in the form of the inaugural Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Equity Award, administered by the Office of Multicultural Affairs. 

“The award is not merely a recognition. It is a celebration of those who have dedicated themselves to building a better, more inclusive community,” said the award’s presenter Harry Titus, Ed.D., dean of students and assistant vice president for student affairs. “Dr. King once said, ‘Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, what are you doing for others?’ Today we honor individuals whose actions answer this profound question in ways that uplift us all.”

In future years, the award will continue to recognize members of the LR campus and the broader community of Hickory and Catawba County to recognize individuals doing important work to promote the ideals of equity and inclusion.

“It is our hope that this will become a tradition that reflects our university’s values and reinforces the importance of striving toward justice,” said Titus.

He then announced the winner of the 2025 award, Lenoir-Rhyne University’s 12th President, Fred Whitt, Ed.D. In August 2024, before the start of the fall semester, Whitt announced plans to retire at the end of the current school year, after 50 distinguished years in higher education. His eight years at Lenoir-Rhyne have seen multiple initiatives to support equity, achievement and success for all students while building a faculty, staff and administration that represents a full range of experiences and viewpoints.

“Usually I’m not speechless. Thank you very much. This means more than you know,” Whitt shared at the start of his remarks before reflecting on the changes he has seen during his tenure. “You know, when I first came here, we had one African American in administration. When I look around today, I am most proud of the diversity and the equity that permeates this campus.”

Terry Phillips, M.S., MTS ’27, director of multicultural affairs, explained that he sees the award as a way of sustaining the work of promoting equity and inclusion in a consistent way that ensures ongoing participation from the campus and community.

“We want to make this a longstanding award, so in the years to come it doesn’t matter if I’m the one in this office or if this office even exists – the tradition will continue as part of student affairs at LR,” he shared. “We are already preparing to establish a committee to select candidates for next year’s award by documenting and evaluating what we see people on campus and the community engaging in ways that promote equity, inclusion, representation and allyship so we can identify candidates and select future recipients. It is important work that deserves recognition over the long term.”