25th Anniversary of "Remembering Martin" Luncheon a Success

United Way of East Central Iowa and the Rotary Club of Cedar Rapids honored 21 area middle and high school students at the 25th annual "Remembering Martin" Luncheon on Monday, January 17, at the Crowne Plaza Five Seasons Hotel. This was the first time in the event's history that we've sold out at maximum capacity of 600! Click here to see photos of the event!

The students were selected by their school administration for their volunteer work, school attendance and positive behavior. The 2011 Student Honorees included: Abigale Bedard, Xavier High School; Brandon Besong, Washington High School; Katelyn Carver, Prairie High School; Danica Chalstrom, Vernon Middle School; Herschel Dixon Jr., Kennedy High School; Kendall Dooley, Franklin Middle School; Dylan Eller, LaSalle Middle School; Mikinzie Farmer, Prairie Point Middle School; Abhinaya Gunasekar, Harding Middle School; Ricky Hoobler, Excelsior Middle School; Christine Jengwa, Regis Middle School; Jared Johnson, Metro High School; LeBon Kayamba Mulangaliro, Jefferson High School; Marissa Knoot, Roosevelt Middle School; Joshua Nzeyimana, McKinley Middle School; Alyssa Olson, Wilson Middle School; Sara Puffer, Linn-Mar High School; Kasey Semler, Marion High School; Annie Stevenson, Oak Ridge Middle School; Ethan Uphouse, Cedar Valley Christian School and Drew Wall, Taft Middle School.

Student honorees received a medallion, certificate and a $100 U.S. Savings Bond. A leadership seminar was also offered to the student honorees following the luncheon. The leadership seminar was hosted by Alliant Energy and Joy Fitzgerald, representative from Rockwell Collins’ Office of Diversity, facilitated. Great seminar!

Karl Cassell, Executive Director of the Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission, was the Keynote Speaker for the event. Karl congratulated the students, and urged them to continue working hard and continue their involvement in the community.

The "Remembering Martin" Luncheon sponsors included: Alliant Energy, Rockwell Collins, Rotary Club of Cedar Rapids and United Way of East Central Iowa. Also, in partnership with the African American Museum of Iowa. Media sponsors included the KCRG TV-9 Show You Care sponsors: Carlos O’Kelly’s, Collins Community Credit Union, Simpson Furniture in Coralville and Mercy Medical Center. Thank you to these great supporters!