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The Tau Sigma Dance Fraternity performs a celebratory dance during the winter convocation in remembrance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
King Day Speaker Myrtle Figueras Tells Brenau Students to ‘Write Your Own Songs’
Jan 14, 2014
Brenau Staff
Long-time Gainesville political leader and teacher Myrtle Figueras challenged Brenau University students Tuesday not to so much press for change in society as to “be the change you want to see.”
Figueras, a long-time member of the Gainesville City Council and the former mayor of the northeast Georgia city, was the keynote speaker at the university’s annual convocation honoring civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
“Life is really like a song – a song of joy, a song of peace, a song of love, a song of tranquility, a song of hope, and, like Dr. King, a song of justice, a song of equality for all human beings” she said. Then she asked the students: “Have you started to write your song yet?”
Mrytle Figueras address the Women’s College student body, faculty and staff during the annual winter convocation honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Figueras, who grew up on a south Georgia farm and became high school foreign languages teacher at Gainesville High School and an adjunct professor of French at Brenau, said that students must ask themselves the question, “What is really my purpose on this earth?” Then, they must use their educations to become the kind of persons they want to be.
“Intelligence plus character,” she said, “is a true goal of education.”
She challenged Brenau students to “…be the change that you want to see.” She concluded with a final question, and a final comment, “We will sing a new song, and we will march on until victory is won.”
In addition to Figueras’s speech, the program included a performance by the Brenau Gospel Choir and a performance of a celebratory dance by the Tau Sigma Dance Fraternity.
Please click the play button below to Figueras’s speech in its entirety.
The Brenau University Gospel Choir performs a selection of songs during the winter convocation in remembrance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
The Brenau University Gospel Choir performs a selction of songs during the winter convocation in rememberance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Faculty and staff members listen on as Mrytle Figueras addresses attendees.
Students stand as Brenau’s Gospel Choir performs ‘Lift Every Voice and Sing’ during the winter convocation in remembrance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Brenau’s Lea Mason introduces the winter convocation speaker Mrytle Figueras
Brenau students laugh as Mrytle Figueras makes a joke during her speech at the winter convocation in remembrance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Mrytle Figueras address the Women’s College student body, facutly and staff during Winter convocation
Brenau students listen on as Mrytle Figueras addresses attendees.
The Tau Sigma Dance Fraternity performs a celebratory dance during the winter convocation in remembrance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
The Tau Sigma Dance Fraternity performs a celebratory dance during the winter convocation in remembrance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
The Brenau University Gospel Choir performs a selection of songs during the winter convocation in remembrance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Portia Clark, the gospel choir director, leads the vocalists as they performs a selection of songs during the winter convocation in remembrance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Mrytle Figueras, center, walks out during the processional behind Brenau University Provost Dr. Nancy Krippel and in front of Dr. Debra Dobkins, dean of Brenau’s women’s college.
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