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Recipients of the MLK Legacy Awards at Ohio University Southern on Tuesday. (Heath Harrison | The Ironton Tribune)

Middle and high school writing contest winners at the MLK Legacy Awards at OUS on Tuesday. (Heath Harrison | The Ironton Tribune)

Dr. Teresa McKenzie hugs Miriam Howard, as she presents her with the Dr. Charles Jarrett Emerging Leader Award at the MLK Legacy Awards reception at OUS on Tuesday. (Heath Harrison | The Ironton Tribune)

Cesiah Bernai-Blanton was the recipient of the Beloved Community Service Award at the MLK Legacy Awards at OUS on Tuesday. (Heath Harrison | The Ironton Tribune)

James Gordon was the recipient of the Alumni Humanitarian Award at the MLK Legacy Awards at OUS on Tuesday. (Heath Harrison | The Ironton Tribune)

Holly Blevins was the recipient of the Drum Major Award at the MLK Legacy Awards at OUS on Tuesday. (Heath Harrison | The Ironton Tribune)

The Student Social Work Association was the recipient of the Dr. Charles Jarrett Emerging Leader Award at the MLK Legacy Awards reception at OUS on Tuesday. (Heath Harrison | The Ironton Tribune)

Ohio University Southern hosted its annual celebration of the life and activism of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. And the event included the presentation of the Legacy Awards to those in the community whose work exemplifies King’s values.

Recipients were:

• This year’s Alumni Humanitarian Award went to James Gordon, chair of Third and Center.

Gordon has organized a riverfront clean up event, as well as a youth fishing event with the Ironton-based nonprofit. He also is a leader in the group’s Trash Bash community clean up, which takes place annually on Earth Day. 

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Dr. Teresa McKenzie hugs Miriam Howard, as she presents her with the Dr. Charles Jarrett Emerging Leader Award at the MLK Legacy Awards reception at OUS on Tuesday. (Heath Harrison | The Ironton Tribune)

• Cesiah Bernai-Blanton, of Ashland, was the recipient of the Beloved Community Service Award.

Dr. Joy Shytle, an associate social work professor, who presented the award, described Bernai-Blanton  as “an advocate for Hispanic culture” in the city, with her work including a celebration in the city around that.

She is also an advocate for the autism community, works as a translator for King’s Daughters Medical Center and works with Ashland for Change as an advocate for inclusivity.

• Holly Blevins, of Ashland, was the recipient of the Drum Major Award.

Blevins is the president work of Ashland Pride and an organizer of the Ashland Pride picnic.

She also works to provide safe space training and other resources in the community, has worked on a community mural project, “Love Can Build a Bridge,” themed after the song by city natives The Judds. She has been honored with a proclamation from the city’s mayor for her efforts.

Blevins said she believes she is facing challenges in the current social and political climate.

“The next few years will not be easy,” she said, stating work must continue for those who are marginalized. “But I believe our brightest days are ahead.”

• Miriam Howard, a senior at Paul Blazer High School in Ashland, was the recipient of the Dr. Charles Jarrett Emerging Leader Award (Secondary school) and the presenter, Dr. Teresa McKenzie, said Howard represented a bight future.

Howard has put in 300 community service hours through Americorps this year.

She has worked with the American Red Cross, the Alzheimer’s Run/Walk, the YMCA, the Senior Citizens Center, Two Hearts Pregnancy Center and the United Way 5K, among many projects. 

McKenzie said Howard’s work takes cares of “immediate needs, while addressing underlying social challenges.”

The other Emerging Leader Award, for post secondary students, went to the Student Social Work Association at OUS.

These students take part in a number of charitable projects, such as organizing a clothing drive, as well as fundraising, restocking blessing boxes and disaster relief efforts.  They also organize community events, such as Trunk or Treat and have a commitment to diversity-themed programs.

Following the Legacy Awards, winners of this year’s middle and high school writing contest were honored.

Dr. Debra Marinski, OUS dean, said, this year, they received 80 pages of entries, comprised of poems and short essays, drawing from quotes by King. Five schools in the region took part in the contest.

Winners were:

• Audrey Ferguson

“Through Love and Faith We All Live On”

Fairland Middle School

• Jocelyn Mack

“Fighter”

Fairland Middle School

• Emily Crabtree

“Love’s Dilemma: Finding Light in the Shadows of Discontent”

Ironton Middle School

• Abbie Deeds

“A Stone of Hope”

Dawson-Bryant High School

• Emma Emnett

“In the Right”

Clay Local Schools

• Evelyn Mader

“Making a Career Out of Humanity”

Dawson-Bryant High School

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