The 48th annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Banquet

A Testament of Hope

buckner performing at MLK Banquet — Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

January 15, 2023

By Patrick Mansell

An audience seated at tables are dimly lit in blue, listening to a brightly lit speaker at a podium, with a sign language interpreter beside her. — Penn State's Forum on Black Affairs hosted the 48th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Banquet on the evening of Jan. 15, 2023, at the Bryce Jordan Center. The theme for this year's gala was 'A Testament of Hope: #FORTHECULTURE.' Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

Andre Culbreath, wearing glasses and a burgundy suit jacket with bow tie, speaks at a podium. — André L. Culbreath, president of the Forum on Black Affairs (FOBA), emceed the 48th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Banquet, along with Stephanie Danette Preston, immediate past president. The gala event, hosted by FOBA, took place in Penn State's Bryce Jordan Center on Jan. 15, 2023. Credit: Patrick Mansell. All Rights Reserved.

Neeli Bendapudi at MLK Banquet — Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi welcomed the capacity crowd to the 2023 Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Banquet at the Bryce Jordan Center on the evening of Jan. 15. The evening included guest speakers, slam poetry, and several musical performances. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

Rev. Paul McReynolds, dressed in a tan suit, speaks at a podium at an event — Rev. Paul McReynolds of Albright-Bethune United Methodist Church, provided a prayer and the blessing of the food at the start of the 48th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Banquet at Penn State's Bryce Jordan Center on Jan. 15, 2023. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

Several people in formal attire stand on a brightly lit stage at a gala event. — This year's recipient of the Forum on Black Affairs Humanitarian Award is Leslie Laing, director of adult learner programs and services in Penn State Student Affairs, standing on stage between 2022 awardee Michael Phillips, left, and FOBA President Andre Culbreath at the 2023 Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Banquet on Jan. 15. Suzanne Adair, at the podium, presented the award, which annually honors an individual who has provided outstanding service to African American citizens of Pennsylvania, particularly in communities around Penn State’s campuses. Credit: Laura Waldhier / Penn State. All Rights Reserved.

Joshua Benitez flautist — Flautist Joshua Benitez provided a beautiful performance during the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Banquet, held Jan. 15, 2023, at Penn State's Bryce Jordan Center. The event was hosted by the Forum on Black Affairs and Penn State Educational Equity. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

Evan Buckner — Violist Evan Buckner plays to a capacity audience at the 48th Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Banquet, held Jan. 15, 2023, at Penn State's Bryce Jordan Center. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

Gabriel Green, wearing a cream-colored jacket and black shirt, sings at a podium. — Penn State alum Gabriel I. Greene sang 'Lift Every Voice and Sing' at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Banquet on Jan. 15, 2023, in the Bryce Jordan Center. The Black National Anthem was written by James Weldon Johnson in 1900. Credit: Patrick Mansell. All Rights Reserved.

An audience seated at tables are dimly lit in blue, listening to a brightly lit speaker at a podium, with a sign language interpreter beside her. — Penn State's Forum on Black Affairs hosted the 48th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Banquet on the evening of Jan. 15, 2023, at the Bryce Jordan Center. The theme for this year's gala was 'A Testament of Hope: #FORTHECULTURE.' Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

Andre Culbreath, wearing glasses and a burgundy suit jacket with bow tie, speaks at a podium. — André L. Culbreath, president of the Forum on Black Affairs (FOBA), emceed the 48th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Banquet, along with Stephanie Danette Preston, immediate past president. The gala event, hosted by FOBA, took place in Penn State's Bryce Jordan Center on Jan. 15, 2023. Credit: Patrick Mansell. All Rights Reserved.

Neeli Bendapudi at MLK Banquet — Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi welcomed the capacity crowd to the 2023 Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Banquet at the Bryce Jordan Center on the evening of Jan. 15. The evening included guest speakers, slam poetry, and several musical performances. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

Rev. Paul McReynolds, dressed in a tan suit, speaks at a podium at an event — Rev. Paul McReynolds of Albright-Bethune United Methodist Church, provided a prayer and the blessing of the food at the start of the 48th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Banquet at Penn State's Bryce Jordan Center on Jan. 15, 2023. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

Several people in formal attire stand on a brightly lit stage at a gala event. — This year's recipient of the Forum on Black Affairs Humanitarian Award is Leslie Laing, director of adult learner programs and services in Penn State Student Affairs, standing on stage between 2022 awardee Michael Phillips, left, and FOBA President Andre Culbreath at the 2023 Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Banquet on Jan. 15. Suzanne Adair, at the podium, presented the award, which annually honors an individual who has provided outstanding service to African American citizens of Pennsylvania, particularly in communities around Penn State’s campuses. Credit: Laura Waldhier / Penn State. All Rights Reserved.

Joshua Benitez flautist — Flautist Joshua Benitez provided a beautiful performance during the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Banquet, held Jan. 15, 2023, at Penn State's Bryce Jordan Center. The event was hosted by the Forum on Black Affairs and Penn State Educational Equity. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

Evan Buckner — Violist Evan Buckner plays to a capacity audience at the 48th Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Banquet, held Jan. 15, 2023, at Penn State's Bryce Jordan Center. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

Gabriel Green, wearing a cream-colored jacket and black shirt, sings at a podium. — Penn State alum Gabriel I. Greene sang 'Lift Every Voice and Sing' at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Banquet on Jan. 15, 2023, in the Bryce Jordan Center. The Black National Anthem was written by James Weldon Johnson in 1900. Credit: Patrick Mansell. All Rights Reserved.

Last Updated January 15, 2023

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