The University is seeking nominations for the Unsung Hero Awards, which will be presented at the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration in the JMA Wireless Dome on Jan. 25, 2026.

The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration at Syracuse University seeks to honor the life and legacy of the leader, who continues to bring hope and healing to our world. As part of the event, the University presents the Unsung Hero Awards to individuals who exemplify the life and lessons of Dr. King, yet have not received widespread recognition for their efforts. The Unsung Heros are meant to represent the University’s commitment to fostering and supporting a university welcoming to all.

Those who received an Unsung Hero Award at the January 2025 celebration included Andrea-Rose Oates ’26, James K. Duah-Agyeman G’99, Student Coalition on Race and Equity (SCORE), Laurence Segal and Jamie Jackson (posthumously). A list of all previous awardees can be found on the MLK Celebration website.

Unsung Hero Award Nominations may be made in any of the following categories:

• Youth/teen from Onondaga, Madison, Oswego, Cayuga or Cortland counties
• Adult from Onondaga, Madison, Oswego, Cayuga or Cortland counties
• Currently enrolled student at Syracuse University or SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF)
• Faculty or staff from Syracuse University or SUNY ESF

If you know an individual who should be honored and celebrated as an Unsung Hero, please consider nominating them for the 2026 celebration. The nomination should be a written explanation in 250 to 500 words of how the nominee embodies Dr. King’s legacy and what makes them an Unsung Hero.

Nominations are due by Friday, Dec. 5, at 11:59 p.m. 

Additional information about the January 2026 celebration will be announced in the coming weeks at mlk.syr.edu. Questions about the Unsung Hero Awards can be submitted to Hendricks Chapel at chapel@syr.edu.