By Dara Harper
Syracuse University is seeking nominations for the Unsung Hero Awards, which will be presented at the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration in the JMA Wireless Dome on January 25, 2026.
The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Celebration at Syracuse University – which is the largest event of its kind in the world – seeks to honor the life and legacy of a leader who continues to bring hope and healing to our world. As part of the celebration, Syracuse University presents the Unsung Hero Awards to those who exemplify the life and lessons of Dr. King yet have not received widespread recognition for their efforts. The Unsung Heros are meant to represent Syracuse University’s commitment to fostering and supporting a university welcoming to all.
If you know an individual who should be honored and celebrated as an Unsung Hero, please consider nominating them for our 2026 celebration. The Unsung Hero Award nominations are due by Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. The nomination form can be found on the MLK Celebration website.
Those who received an Unsung Hero Award at the January of 2025 celebration included: Andrea-Rose Oates ’26, James K. Duah-Agyeman G’99, Student Coalition on Race and Equity (SCORE), Laurence Segal and Jamie Jackson (posthumously). A list of all previous awardees can be found on the MLK Celebration website.
Unsung Hero Award Nominations may be made in any of the following categories:
- youth/teen from Onondaga, Madison, Oswego, Cayuga or Cortland counties
- adult from Onondaga, Madison, Oswego, Cayuga or Cortland counties
- currently enrolled student at Syracuse University or SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF)
- faculty or staff from Syracuse University or SUNY ESF
Nominations must be a MINIMUM of 250 words and a MAXIMUM of 500 words. The nomination should be a written explanation of how the nominee embodies Dr. King’s legacy, and what makes them an Unsung Hero.
The 2026 Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration will take place on Jan. 25, 2026, in the JMA Wireless Dome. Further information will be announced in the coming weeks at mlk.syr.edu.
With questions regarding the Unsung Hero Awards, please contact Hendricks Chapel at chapel@syr.edu.