Martin Luther King Jr. Day
at Shenandoah
Know the Past. Improve the Present. Serve the Future.
MLK Service of Remembrance
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is one of the most important yearly events at Shenandoah University. It's a day when we all join together to honor Dr. King's life and legacy.
The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Service of Remembrance is the longest-running celebration of the King holiday at Shenandoah. It features words, images, and music offered in honor and celebration of the life and legacy of Dr. King. The MLK Service of Remembrance event will be Monday, Jan. 16, at Goodson Chapel-Recital Hall. There will be a prelude concert by Harambee Gospel Choir at 11:15 a.m. and the service will begin at 11:30 a.m. Both the prelude and the service will be livestreamed on the Spiritual Life Facebook page at www.facebook.com/suspirituallife. Questions? Reach out to spirituallife@su.edu.
How will you observe the MLK Day of Service?
Members of the university community are invited to share their plans for observing the MLK Day of Service. Please see our list of volunteer opportunities for suggestions.
Shenandoah University
Mission Statement
Shenandoah University educates and inspires individuals to be critical, reflective thinkers; lifelong learners; and ethical, compassionate citizens who are committed to making responsible contributions within a community, a nation and the world.
Each year we celebrate the life, legacy, and impact of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, and every day we at Shenandoah work towards the dream he spoke of in Washington, D.C., back in 1963.
View Past MLK Celebrations at Shenandoah
MLK Week 2021
MLK Week 2018
240 volunteers worked together to package 50,000 meals for Rise Against Hunger, 200 reflected on King's legacy at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Service of Remembrance, 50 viewed the documentary "An Outrage" and met with the filmmakers to discuss the history of lynching in the American South, 12 people braved 16-degree temperatures to learn about the African-American experience in Winchester during the Civil War, 200 people stepped into the past, via virtual reality, to experience a 1960 lunch counter sit-in. “I am really proud of what we accomplished together as a community,” said Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs and Director of General Education Amy Sarch, Ph.D. “This week has been one that truly represents to me what makes Shenandoah, Shenandoah.”
MLK Day Service Projects 2018
Service is a concept at the heart of Shenandoah University's Martin Luther King, Jr. Week. Students volunteered Winchester, Loudoun and Fairfax, on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, and in the greater Winchester community throughout the week, working with children, packaging meals, helping health care organizations, working with groups that provide housing and other services to people in need, and so much more! However, as these students show, the volunteer spirit extends well past Martin Luther King, Jr. Week at Shenandoah.
MLK Day of Service 2017
Service – to a community, nation, and world – is an integral part of the Shenandoah University experience. On the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service 2017, Shenandoah students heeded Dr. King's call to serve by participating in a host of projects to benefit people in need. Students and members of the campus community also took the time to reflect on the life and work of the slain civil rights leader.
MLK Day of Service 2016
Shenandoah University students gathered on campus to remember the life, work, spirit and legacy of late civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. They worked on service projects, such as assembling meals for Stop Hunger Now!, reflected on the meaning of King's life, and participated in a candlelight walk to conclude the day's events, with some of the path marked by luminaries hand-decorated by students, faculty and staff.
MLK Day of Service 2015
The entire university community banded together to participate in the 2015 Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. Classes were canceled so students, faculty and staff could dedicate their time to helping others in the communities surrounding Shenandoah's campuses.
MLK Service of Remembrance 2014
On January 20, 2014, Shenandoah University held the Martin Luther King Jr. Service of Remembrance in Goodson Chapel. With speaker, singing, and words directly from Dr. King himself, SU remembered Dr. Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his legacy.
MLK News

Shenandoah’s MLK Week Children’s Literature Events Connect With Thousands Of Students
Over the course of 35 years, Shenandoah University and the world of children’s literature have developed a strong bond. Every summer, teachers and librarians flock to the university to hear from ... Continue Reading Shenandoah’s MLK Week Children’s Literature…

Shenandoah Celebrates Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Shenandoah University begins its annual celebration of the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Monday, Jan. 18, with discussion and introspection on equity, culture-blindness and color ... Continue Reading Shenandoah Celebrates Dr. Martin Luther…

From Echoes to Equity MLK Creative Arts Showcase
Shenandoah University faculty, staff and students are invited to present an original creative work — poem, song, drawing, painting, or craft — and submit a video recording of their creative work that ... Continue Reading From Echoes to Equity MLK…