From: McCall, Courtney [mailto:McCallC@hssu.edu] Sent: Thursday, December 12, 2013 12:41 PM Subject: Roland Martin to Keynote Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration at HSSU News Harris-Stowe State University For Immediate Release Contact: Courtney McCall (314) 340-3391 mccallc@hssu.edu<mailto:mccallc@hssu.edu> Nationally Syndicated Columnist and Journalist to Keynote 28th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. State Celebration Kickoff at Harris-Stowe ST. LOUIS, MO (December 12, 2013) - The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. State Celebration Commission of Missouri will host its 28th annual kick-off program on Saturday, January 11, 2014, at 6:30 p.m. Harris-Stowe State University's Main Auditorium. Nationally syndicated columnist and journalism Roland Martin will serve as the keynote speaker for the event, which is themed, "Focusing on Family Financial Freedom." Martin's long journalistic career has seen the likes of many U.S. presidents, top entertainers and well-known athletes. He is a nationally syndicated columnist with Creators Syndicate and is senior analyst for the Tom Joyner Morning Show, where his daily segment is heard on more than 100 stations and eight million people daily. Martin is chief political editor for TV One Cable Network and host and managing editor of "Washington Watch with Roland Martin," a one-hour Sunday morning news show. >From October 2005 to October 2008, he served as a radio talk show for WVON-AM in Chicago, first as mid-day host and later as morning drive host. He is the former executive editor/general manager of the Chicago Defender, the nation's most historic Black newspaper and former founding news editor for Savoy Magazine under the team of New York-based Vanguarde Media, as well as the the former founding editor of BlackAmericaWeb.com. During his career, Martin has received more than 30 awards for journalistic excellence, including being named the Journalist of the Year in 2013 by the National Association of Black Journalists for his extensive focus on voter suppression and other issues of concern to African Americans during the 2012 election. He was also awarded the 2008 President's Award by the National Association of Black Journalists for his work in multiple media platforms. In 2008, he was inducted into the Texas A&M University Journalism Hall of Honor. Martin is a life member of the National Association of Black Journalists and a life member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. State Celebration Commission of Missouri, Mrs. Constance Gully, chairwoman, is comprised of 20 individuals representing various areas within the state, including Cape Girardeau (vacant), Columbia, Fulton, Jefferson City (vacant), Kansas City, Kirksville, Lee's Summit, Springfield and St. Louis. The state celebration kick-off program serves as the first MLK-related event to be held in Missouri. Throughout the year, the commission meets regularly to plan their own respective events geared toward preserving Dr. King's legacy, as well as the program held each year at HSSU. Harris-Stowe State University, located in midtown St. Louis, is a four-year institution that offers 14 degree programs in the areas of Accounting, Business Administration, Biology, Criminal Justice, Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, Educational Studies, Health Care Management, , Information Sciences and Computer Technology, Mathematics, Middle School Education, Professional Interdisciplinary Studies, Secondary Education and Urban Affairs. Ranked by U.S. News as one of America's Best Colleges in the Midwest, the university, which has been in existence for more than 150 years, offers the most affordable bachelor's degree in the state of Missouri and is home to the Don and Heide Wolff Jazz Institute. ### Courtney Z. McCall Harris-Stowe State University Associate Vice President for University Relations HGA 110 3026 Laclede Avenue St. Louis, MO 63103 Ofc: (314) 340-3391 **********************Harris-Stowe State University********************** This e-mail is confidential and sent only to specified recipient(s). However, all e-mail is subject to possible interception by third parties. *************Contact postmaster@hssu.edu<mailto:postmaster@hssu.edu> to report problems**************