QCC Hosts 38th MLK Breakfast

For the 38th year, QCC hosted the annual Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Breakfast. Hundreds of people came from the community, including nonprofit organizations, colleges, high school, and city departments such as the Worcester Police Department and Worcester Fire Department to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. King. The theme of this year's event was "A Day of Service" and many community-based organizations were in attendance to solicit volunteers for community involvement.

WPI's Vice Chancellor for Diversity and Inclusion Dr. Marlina Duncan served as Master of Ceremonies. QCC President Dr. Luis G. Pedraja gave a welcoming address in addition to Worcester City Manager Eric Batista and Congressman James McGovern.The event also included talented performers such as David Allen, Noah Allen, Christon Carney and Leslie Clark.

Several college students, including QCC's own Haley LaFortune were awarded scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $3,000.

• Haley LaFortune – Quinsigamond Community College
• Isabella Christie – Oxford University
• Maya Coulouras – Assumption University
• Leena Elbayoumi – Framingham State University
• Wiktoria Golemo – Clark University
• Sophia Noonan – Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
• Chloe Norwood – University of Massachusetts Amherst
• Rona Poku-Mensah – Westfield State University
• Julianna Torres – Springfield College
• Ava Towle – Brandeis University
• Arop Majak – Quinsigamond Community College
• Simone Nelson-White – North Carolina A&T University

In addition to the scholarships, the annual Eleanor T. Hawley Community Service Award will be presented to Dr. George Storms Smith and Gordon Hargrove. One of the MLK, Jr. Community Breakfast founders, Smith had a decades-long career in education and civil rights activism. Hargrove was a staff member and executive director of the board of directors for The Friendly House.

The Worcester Police Department also gave our service awards to Captain Kenneth Davenport and Officer David Rutherford for their support and outreach to the Worcester community.