KENNESAW, Ga. | Jan 30, 2026

Kennesaw State University brought the campus community together to honor the legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during the 2026 MLK Legacy Breakfast at Vystar Arena.

University and community leaders, along with students, faculty, and staff, attended the annual breakfast to reflect on King’s lasting impact and the responsibility his work continues to place on future generations. The program underscored that honoring King’s legacy is not limited to remembrance but calls for continued commitment and action in everyday life.

The program began with an original composition performed by student organization KSU Colors and featured excerpts from Martin Luther King Jr.’s 1965 speech, “Our God is Marching On,” followed by a welcome from Student Government Association President Allisa George.

KSU President Kathy S. Schwaig addressed attendees, emphasizing the importance of leadership, service, and staying actively engaged with the values King championed throughout his life.

“Each year, we gather not only to honor Dr. King, but to commit ourselves anew to carry forward his work—together ,” Schwaig said. “His vision was never for one person or one community alone, but for all of us to be united in purpose.”

The breakfast also featured a keynote address by Mark Wilson, founder and CEO of Infrastructure Growth Partners (IGP) and member of the KSU Foundation Board of Trustees, who reflected on King’s legacy. Wilson challenged attendees to consider how individual choices and collective responsibility continue to shape progress and opportunity, particularly within their own communities and institutions.

“Every opportunity I’ve ever been given came with an obligation to help someone else rise,” Wilson said. “When we understand that our success is tied to the success of others, we begin to build stronger communities together.”

The ceremony concluded with a performance of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” by KSU’s Black Musicians Coalition, followed by a tribute video honoring King’s legacy.

The MLK Legacy Breakfast offered members of the KSU community a moment to step away from daily routines and engage with King’s message in a meaningful way. Conversations throughout the morning reflected a shared sense of responsibility and awareness of the work that remains, both locally and beyond campus.

The breakfast stands as the highlight of the university’s annual activities honoring Dr King.

For students, the event served as a reminder that leadership is not defined by position or title, but by how individuals show up in their communities and respond to the challenges around them.

King was the most prominent leader of the U.S. civil rights movement during the 1960s before his assassination in 1968. The federal holiday honoring his legacy was first observed in 1986, and Kennesaw State University continues to honor his life and work through annual programming and community engagement.

– Story by Raynard Churchwell

Photos by Matt Yung

A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees to its more than 51,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university's vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties, and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 8 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.