LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) — Sixth Ward Councilman Derry Glenn is honoring those in Lima who are keeping the dream of Martin Luther King Jr. alive.
This year marks the 44th time Glenn has hosted his annual “I Have a Dream” Awards Banquet. He began the event while he was in college, after a professor challenged his class to honor the message of Dr. King. Since then, Glenn has continued recognizing individuals who embody King’s spirit within the Lima community.
“We are trying to make sure we look at these people that keeping that dream alive, who might not get no recognition in our community, but they gonna get it with us. We see it. A lot of folks nominate people. They say when they go out, people like these are people that we see every day, that care about our kids, that care about our community," says Councilman Derry Glenn, Lima's 6th Ward.
Lima City Schools Superintendent Andre Rudolph delivered the keynote address at the banquet. He said King’s legacy is a call to action and urged older generations to teach students the importance of that message while leading by example.
“I love to see everybody here today in community, in unison, to speak about that dream, to also speak about Lima and where we stand in that there's a lot of work that has been done. There's more work to be done. And so it's great to see everybody here today ready to receive the call to action and continuing that work,” says Superintendent Andre Rudolph, Lima City Schools.
Award winners for the “I Have a Dream” Awards Banquet include:
- J.D. Secession — Furl Williams Award
- Thomas J. Smith — Alberta Shurleds Award
- Mary Monford — Georgia Newsome Award
- LaFawn Pughsley — Mary Coleman Award
- Jermaine Dukes — Larry Watkins Award
- Letese Dixon — Mary Bradley Award
- Priscilla Walton — Rosa Parks Award
I Have a Dream Award winners include Lisa Ashafa, Pastor Carl Brooks, Lt. Benjamin Thompson, Judy Lloyd, Rev. Stephanie Ransom-Upshaw, Lt. Scott Luedeke, Michael Little, Kevin E. Jones I, Glenda Turner, Melina Robinson, Elma Long, Ray Magnus, Russ Decker and Trisha Winkler.
