01/12/12 jgm

HAYS, Kan. -- Fort Hays State University will remember the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his service to the civil rights movement through the Dr. King Birthday Bash, Dr. King's Candlelight Celebration and the fourth annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service.

The Bash will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 18, in the Memorial Union by the feature wall. Free cake and punch will celebrate what would have been King's 83rd birthday.

A candlelight celebration will start at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 19, in the Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center and will celebrate King's life and contributions. Guest performer Barry Scott will recreate some of King's most powerful speeches.

The Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service will be Saturday, Jan. 21, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Each year, the National Day of Service honors King's legacy by asking Americans to help their neighbors and communities.

The day of service is co-sponsored by FHSU's Office of Diversity Affairs and Tigers in Service, which will organize volunteers to serve the Hays community. Past projects included volunteering at elementary schools, nursing homes, churches and for clean-ups throughout Hays.

For more information, contact George Jackson III, coordinator of diversity affairs, at 785-628-4664.