UND’s Office of Community & Belonging, in collaboration with The Hilyard Center, is organizing a celebration to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy. The event, titled “Remaining Awake Through a Great Revolution” Celebration and Awards Dinner, will take place on Thursday, January 23 at 5 p.m. in the Memorial Union Ballroom. It is open to all members of the University community and free of charge.
The keynote speaker for the dinner will be Paul Pitts, a 1977 graduate and the first Black student body president at UND. Originally from Wheeling, West Virginia, Pitts joined the United States Air Force after high school graduation. He served with distinction for eight years on active duty and 17 years in the Air Force Reserves. During Operation Desert Storm in 1990, he was called back to active duty and retired from the Reserves in 1996.
Pitts’ military service included tours of duty in Michigan, Vietnam, and at Grand Forks Air Force Base. His time at Grand Forks led him to enroll at the University of North Dakota where he became involved in student leadership roles including serving as UND’s first student representative on the Grand Forks City Council.
The event promises an opportunity for reflection on King’s enduring impact and an evening dedicated to recognizing those who continue his work today.
