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Updated: January 21, 2025 @ 12:07 am
Danville High School senior Tayvion Diltz, shown as homecoming king last fall, was named as the 2025 MLK Scholarship recipient at Monday’s MLK Community-Wide Celebration at St. James United Methodist Church in Danville.
Danville High School senior Tayvion Diltz, shown as homecoming king last fall, was named as the 2025 MLK Scholarship recipient at Monday’s MLK Community-Wide Celebration at St. James United Methodist Church in Danville.
DANVILLE — Danville High School senior Tayvion Diltz knows his mom sometimes “fake jokes” with him.
So, when she asked him to come with her one day at school, where she also works as a behavior interventionist, he wasn’t sure what it was about.
Diltz said he thought, “What’d I do this time?”
But his mom told him she got a letter from the MLK Jr. Celebration Committee. They opened it and learned he had been chosen as its 2025 MLK Scholarship recipient.
“There were a bunch of emotions. I was really happy to get it,” Diltz said.
Diltz was honored at Monday’s MLK Community-Wide Celebration at St. James United Methodist Church in Danville.
The committee increased the annual scholarship to $6,000. To be eligible, a student must be a graduating senior at a local high school who plans to continue their education at an institution of higher learning.
“I’m very proud of him,” said his mom, Taylor Vollmer, who added she has had to get on him a little about applying for scholarships.
“This is free money,” she said she told him. “He did it all by himself.”
Vollmer said her son originally wanted to go into nursing after he graduates. Now, he’s narrowed it down to physical therapy and possibly becoming an athletic trainer, she said.
Diltz said he’s not sure yet what university he will attend, but he plans to study kinesiology and minor in psychology.
“I’ve played sports all my life,” he said. “I’d love to become an athletic trainer.”
He said if continuing in sports doesn’t work out, he can still be around football and other sports by being an athletic trainer.
Vollmer said her son is a good student, and Diltz has kept busy with sports at Danville. He’s currently playing basketball, and is also on the football and track teams.
“It took a lot of time,” Diltz said about writing his MLK Scholarship essay.
Diltz said his mentors helped guide him and gave him the mindset to take his time and connect with King’s “I Have a Dream” speech. It was a process, he said.
Diltz said somebody else could have received the scholarship because his classmates worked really hard on their essays as well.
“It was just a blessing,” he said. “I’m still shocked … that I got it.”
The essay submitted by 2025 MLK Scholarship winner Tayvion Diltz, a senior at Danville High School:
“Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s ‘I Have a Dream’ speech is a compelling appeal for equality and justice. It remains powerful because it eloquently addresses the deep-seated issues of racial discrimination and envisions a future where people are judged by their character rather than the color of their skin. This vision and the call for action it inspires are timeless, resonating with ongoing struggles for civil rights and social justice. His vision of a world where individuals are judged by their character rather than the color of their skin is a principle I strive to advocate for in my daily life.
As someone who believes deeply in this vision, I actively promote fairness and empower others to find their voice. By addressing discriminatory remarks and promoting inclusivity, I contribute to an environment where everyone feels empowered and valued. Throughout my high school career, I have discovered avenues of advocacy that have allowed me to speak up for others. This is needed as, 60 years later, we still face opposing battles.
I encountered a significant challenge of advocacy at my workplace when a colleague made an insensitive remark about another co-worker’s background. Understanding the importance of addressing such issues, even with it being a simple joke, I knew I couldn’t remain silent. I approached the situation head-on, directly addressing the comment and explaining why it was hurtful and inappropriate. This approach not only served to educate my colleagues about the impact of their words but also demonstrated to others that such behavior would not be tolerated. It was a crucial moment that reinforced the values of respect and inclusivity in our workplace. By taking a stand, I created an environment where everyone feels respected and valued for who they are. The environment created as my workplace allowed me to make this an aim in my personal trajectory.
Providing a voice for the hopeless can be as small as encouraging a peer to host events to allow youth like me to see the inspiration I once sought. Although viewed as loud, I have experienced times when I felt voiceless. I vow to help others never experience this pain. Seeing individuals grow in confidence and self-worth is incredibly rewarding and aligns with Dr. King’s vision. Even though his vision can sometimes seem blurred, we still hold on to hope. As Dr. King said, ‘We must accept finite disappointment but never lose infinite hope.’ We keep his dream alive by leading by example and teaching the value of knowledge and righteousness.
Dr. King’s dream of a society where individuals are judged by their character guides my life. By speaking up against injustice and empowering others, I strive to advocate for this vision and instill these values in my own future generations. I will not want to be known for just my name or what I left behind but to be known for my commitment to fairness, knowledge, and empowerment, contributing to a world where everyone is valued for who they truly are.”
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