MLK Leadership Awards

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Awards

 

The MLK Leadership Award Ceremony and Reception will be held on February 15, 2024, from 5:00 – 7:30pm, Samberg Conference Center, 6th floor. This event is open to the entire MIT community.

 

MLK Leadership Awards are given annually to students, alumni, staff, groups, and faculty members who embody the spirit of Dr. King’s work.

“Service to the community” is defined in the broadest sense and includes academic, research, religious, and secular contributions in which integrity, leadership, creativity, and positive outcome are apparent.

Nominations are open September 25 – October 30.

 

Nomination tips

  • Describe how your nominee meets the criteria “service to the community.” Write in detail regarding academic, research, religious, or secular contributions.
  • Avoid jargon. While you are familiar with your nominee’s work, it is likely the members of the selection committee won’t be. Include measurable results when possible (e.g., new, or improved programming, new ways of enabling diversity and inclusion, improvements to morale, etc.).
  • Include measurable results when possible (e.g., new, or improved programming, new ways of enabling diversity and inclusion, improvements to morale, etc.).
  • Use multiple examples of how the individual or organization went above and beyond.
  • Get support. Split up the areas (academic, research, religious, or secular) and/or award criteria (integrity, leadership, creativity, positive outcomes) with co-nominators to share writing the nomination, and ask others who may work with the nominee to submit statements in support of the nomination.
  • Keep recognizing. If you submitted an MLK Leadership Award nomination last year, consider revising it and citing new examples of contributions made over this year.

2023 MLK Leadership Award Winners

Undergraduate student: Aria Kydd

Graduate student: Jensen Johnson

Staff member: Moana Bentin

Faculty member: Frank Ahimaz

Alumna: Mareena Robinson-Snowden


Previous MLK Leadership Award recipients

For a complete list of all previous MLK Leadership Award recipients, by year, visit the MLK Scholars website.