UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Annual Evening Celebration, presented by the the student-led 2019 Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration Committee, is the culmination of the 34th annual MLK Jr. Commemoration Week at University Park, and will take place at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 25, in Schwab Auditorium, featuring speakers Angela Rye and Marc Lamont Hill.

Angela Rye is an attorney, as well as principal and CEO of IMPACT Strategies, a political advocacy firm in Washington, D.C. She is an NPR political analyst and CNN political commentator. Marc Lamont Hill is a professor and Steve Charles Chair in Media, Cities and Solutions, in the Lew Klein College of Media and Communication, at Temple University.

“Both Rye and Hill are always engaging and encouraging the youth to be proponents in civic and political engagement and activism within their communities. Rye and Hill’s rhetoric allow for students and young professionals to understand the political spectrum and their civil rights and liberties,” said Awaly Diallo, executive director of the 2018-19 Martin Luther King Jr. Student Committee. “Both speakers use their platforms to highlight injustices such as mass incarceration and current political spectrum in the United States.”

This is a free event funded by the student-initiated fee. Priority entrance on a first-come, first-served basis will be given to students with a valid Penn State University Park photo ID. Community members are welcome to attend and will be seated based on availability.