The University of Central Missouri (UCM) celebrated Martin Luther King Jr.'s longstanding legacy by showcasing the arts and presenting scholarships at the annual MLK Freedom Scholarship Banquet on Tuesday, Jan. 21.
The banquet, hosted in the Elliott Student Union Ballrooms, is the highlight of the university’s MLK Celebration. Guests enjoyed performances from UCM and community members and watched the 2025 MLK Freedom Scholarships presentation. All funds raised go directly to deserving UCM students through two scholarship funds.
This year’s MLK Celebration theme is “Living the Dream: Bringing Unity to the Community,” marking the 62nd anniversary of the historic 1963 March on Washington led by King.
Shari Bax, Ph.D., vice president for Student Experience and Engagement, and Lover Chancler, Ph.D., director of the Center for Multiculturalism and Inclusivity, presented eight scholarships to UCM students.
The Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship provides opportunities for students from cultures, races or ethnicities that have been historically under-represented in higher education. Undergraduate students are eligible. The Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship recipients are:
Leah Holt, of Kansas City, Kansas, is a Health Studies major with a minor in Nutrition. She is a McNair Scholar and serves on the Health Studies Student Leadership Board. She strives to create better environments.
Yahaira Lopez-Santana, of Kansas City, Kansas, is an International Business major with a minor in Health. Active in Mo Volunteers and the Student Organization of Latinos, she hopes to work with UNICEF to support children and families worldwide.
Jada Boddy, of Woodland Park, Colorado, is an Accounting major with a minor in Big Data. She is a leader in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. and Delta Sigma Pi. In addition to becoming a CPA, she dreams of teaching financial literacy in underfunded schools to empower future generations.
Alejandra Hall, of Independence, Missouri, is an Education major. She plans to pursue a master’s degree and continue growing as an educator.
The MLK Freedom Scholarship, which began in 1994, is awarded to students who actively participate in community-building activities at UCM or in their home community. It provides opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students from historically under-represented groups in higher education. The MLK Freedom Scholarship recipients are:
Mya Thomas, of Kansas City, Missouri, is a Communications major with a double minor in Marketing and Business Administration. She serves on three executive boards, holds leadership roles in two organizations and works as a marketing intern. Her goal is to work in marketing for major brands and eventually launch her own hair care company and remote marketing agency.
Lyssa Collier, of Kansas City, Missouri, is a Cybersecurity major with a minor in Psychology. She is a participant in the Missouri Innovation Campus STEM program, a recipient of the Mickey Leland Award, and a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., the Association of Black Collegians and Sisters of Ujima.
Deaihra Washington, of Kansas City, Missouri, is majoring in Health Studies with a minor in Business Administration. She works in the First-Year Experience Office and plans to become a neonatal nurse, driven by a lifelong passion for helping others.
Keyon Butler, of Fort Worth, Texas, is a Cybersecurity major and a student-athlete with UCM Football. He earned a 4.0 GPA in the Central Summer Academy and made the dean’s list. He aspires to improve his family’s financial situation through his education.
Chancler noted that several recipients are first-generation college students, including Hall and Washington.
“These scholarships are not just changing the lives of our first-generation students, but it’s changing the trajectory of their families and the generations to come, and so for that, we are truly grateful,” Chancler told Tuesday night’s audience.
Throughout the evening, numerous UCM students presented a cultural fashion show, solo dances and an original poem. The banquet also featured a performance by the UCM Jazz Combo and dance performances from Center Stage Academy of the Performing Arts.
Max Ridenhour, chair of the Warrensburg Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, introduced this year’s Community Service Award recipients, Warrensburg resident Barbara Hill and Warrensburg High School student Emalie Denton. The pair was recognized for their efforts during last week’s MLK Community Service Awards luncheon.
For more information about UCM’s 2025 MLK Celebration, contact Chancler at 660-543-8049 or chancler@ucmo.edu or visit ucmo.edu/mlk.
PHOTO CUTLINE: From left, Lover Chancler, Ph.D., director of the Center for Multiculturalism and Inclusivity, Shari Bax, Ph.D., vice president for Student Experience and Engagement, scholarship recipients Jada Boddy, Leah Holt, Mya Thomas, Lyssa Collier, Deaihra Washington and Keyon Butler, and UCM President Roger Best, Ph.D. Recipients Yahaira Lopez-Santana and Alejandra Hall were not present.
