Convocation honors Martin Luther King Jr. with dancing, singing and guest speaker
Brenau University Women’s College students spent their lunch hour Thursday dancing and singing in celebration of the memory of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
The 2017 Winter Convocation in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day was held in Pearce Auditorium and the theme was “United Toward the Dream.” It included performances by the Brenau Gospel Choir, dance students along with Visiting Assistant Professor of Dance Madia Cooper-Ashirifi, as well as visiting performer Kofi Mawuko. Students, staff, faculty and administration members joined together in a dance celebrating unity and promoting peace.
Brenau alumna Tomyka Chaney returned to her alma mater to act as keynote speaker for the event. Chaney is an award-winning Atlanta entrepreneur and business development partner with more than 20 years experience in her field. In 2009, Chaney founded Best BOOM! Strategies, a training and development firm that eases career transition for executives.
Chaney discussed King’s own role as a trainer and developer, and his skills that allowed him to change the world for the better. She challenged the students to harness their own skills, as King did, and to follow his lead.
“Dr. King was a great writer,” Chaney said. “His intellectual property was what allowed him to make a difference, and it is still part of his legacy. Being able to take a moment and truly articulate the times – how many of us do that? But we can all work on our hard skills, and like Dr. Martin Luther King did, we can all do the work, think outside the box and make a difference.”
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- Crystal Toombs, associate provost for adult & graduate studies, laughs with Kyle Leineweber while the Brenau gospel choir performs during the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Convocation.
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- The Brenau University Gospel Choir performs during the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Convocation.
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- Tomyka Chaney, a Brenau alumna and executive director of Best BOOM! Strategies, poses for a photo with Brenau President Ed Schrader after the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Convocation. Chaney delivered the keynote speech during the convocation.
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- Mawre & Company, composed of Brenau students and lead by Madia Cooper-Ashirifi, visiting assistant professor of dance, performs a celebratory dance during the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Convocation.
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- Tomyka Chaney, a Brenau alumna and executive director of Best BOOM! Strategies, delivers the keynote address during the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Convocation.
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- Nicole Vernon performs with he Brenau University Gospel Choir during the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Convocation.
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- Brenau President Ed Schrader, right, keynote speaker Tomyka Chaney, a Brenau alumna and executive director of Best BOOM! Strategies, and Brenau faculty and staff member join together in a celebratory dance of unity and peace during the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Convocation.
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- Cynthia Ayala-Mata, right, and Arabia Jones sing with the Brenau University Gospel Choir during the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Convocation.
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- Madia Cooper-Ashirifi, visiting assistant professor of dance, introduces a musical and dancer performance of “Fanga Alafia” during the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Convocation.
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- Brenau President Ed Schrader delivers a welcome during the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Convocation.
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- Portia Burns sings “O God, Our Help in Ages Past” during the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Convocation.
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- Kofi Mawuko performs during the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Convocation.
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- Mawre & Company, composed of Brenau students and lead by Madia Cooper-Ashirifi, visiting assistant professor of dance, performs a celebratory dance during the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Convocation.
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- Cynthia Ayala-Mata, dances and sings along during a musical performance at the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Convocation.
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- Kyle Leineweber delivers the benediction during the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Convocation.
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- Cassidy Collier, from right to left, Monika Nwajei and Allie Smith, all seniors, dance along during a musical and celebratory dance performance during the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Convocation.
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- Brenau students react while participating in a song and celebratory dance performance during the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Convocation.
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- Gloria Clark introduces the keynote speaker during the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Convocation.
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- From left to right, Nancy Benitez, Pam Konken, Allie Smith and Monika Nwajei dance along to a celebratory dance during the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Convocation.
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- Tomyka Chaney, a Brenau alumna and executive director of Best BOOM! Strategies, delivers the keynote address during the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Convocation.
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- Gloria Clark gets a hug from Tomyka Chaney, a Brenau alumna and executive director of Best BOOM! Strategies, during the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Convocation.
