In observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Marietta College honored Dr. King’s life and legacy with two powerful events designed to inspire reflection and action, bringing the campus and broader community together to engage with his call for justice, nonviolence, and service.
On Friday, Jan. 16, students who traveled to Montgomery and Selma, Alabama, during Fall Break 2025 for the annual Exploring Black Slavery experience shared presentations in the McDonough Auditorium as part of “Mission Possible: Building a Community, Uniting a Nation, the Nonviolent Way.” The lunch-and-learn program focused on student perspectives, as they recounted their exploration of the history of Black slavery in the United States from 1619 to the present day and the transformative legacy of the Civil Rights Movement.
Mission Possible was organized by the Office of Student Connections and Outreach under the leadership of Dr. Richard Danford, vice president for student life, and Tony Mayle, associate dean of students and director of the Office of Student Connections and Outreach.
“Students who participated in the Exploring Black Slavery: 1619 Through Today Fall Break trip and presented during our Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration exemplified Marietta College’s commitment to leadership and service through their deep understanding and reflection, positively shaping our campus community and bringing Dr. King’s vision of hope, understanding, and perseverance to life,” said Mayle.
The students spoke about visiting historic sites, including the National Museum for Peace and Justice and the Voting Rights Museum, as well as the lives and work of leaders, organizers, and everyday individuals who advanced civil rights. Their reflections highlighted how the experience challenged their understanding of Black history, strengthened their sense of responsibility, and connected Dr. King’s work to contemporary issues of justice and equity.
Dr. Danford noted that the reflections provided by students on their experiences in Alabama echo Dr. King’s calls to individual action: to be servant leaders addressing society’s shared challenges and needs.
“Our students were able to encounter new and meaningful information, process that learning on their own and as part of the group, and then identify ways to work as engaged and committed citizens and leaders. The most powerful remarks made by the students are the ones where they were able to connect their learning from Alabama with their own lives and communities,” said Dr. Danford. “That's one of the biggest gifts of learning about others — the opportunity to learn even more deeply about yourself and how we are all connected through our shared humanity. These kinds of experiential learning opportunities provide Marietta College students with an education that makes a lasting, lifelong impact.”
Continuing the College’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day activities, more than 100 participants gathered on Monday, Jan. 19, for a Cost of Poverty Experience (COPE) Simulation in the Great Room of Andrews Hall. The immersive, 2.5-hour simulation allowed participants to step into the roles of families navigating the realities of poverty, food insecurity, and limited access to resources in the Mid-Ohio Valley.
COPE grouped participants into family units with varying circumstances and guided them through a series of real-world scenarios representing weeks in the lives of families facing economic challenges. As they moved through stations representing social services, employers, nonprofits, and community organizations, participants managed limited time and resources, developing a deeper understanding of how systemic issues affect everyday decision-making.
The COPE Simulation was organized by Shannan Tschopp, Nonprofits LEAD program director, and Cole Longcor, Community Health Worker-AmeriCorps member and OCL professional staff, in support of Hunger Solutions Mid-Ohio Valley’s mission to reduce hunger and food insecurity throughout the local community. According to Longcor, the simulation’s significance as an MLK Day event is twofold.
“First, I believe it shows that certain messages from Martin Luther King Jr. transcend time and place. Messages of compassion and humanity still resonate as powerfully today as they did during the Civil Rights Era. Second, it shows how there are still legacy challenges that individuals in our communities face every day,” said Longcor. “While you can’t fully understand a topic such as poverty in a single morning, I hope that the time participants spent with us inspires them to lead fulfilling, compassionate lives that are dedicated to service.”
In honoring Dr. King’s life and work, Marietta College engaged the campus and broader community in meaningful education and service that extends beyond the observance itself. Through experiential activities, participants examined history, confronted real-world challenges, and reflected on their role in shaping a more equitable and just community. Martin Luther King Jr. Day reinforced the College’s commitment to preparing individuals to lead with integrity, empathy and purpose, carrying Dr. King’s vision into their lives and communities.