There’s warmth emanating from the Noble Room in the lower level of Hendricks Chapel every Monday night whenever classes are in session.
Every sewing machine buzzes and hums as the members of the Hendricks Chapel Quilters make handmade quilts that will keep vulnerable Central New Yorkers warm during the winter months.
“Those are chaotic nights. Everybody is working on a project that will end up at one of our partner charities,” says quilting enthusiast Judy O’Rourke ’75, G’10. “It’s nice knowing you’re helping someone out, and it’s nice knowing that something I enjoy doing is giving somebody else comfort.”
Judy O’Rourke (center) is one of the passionate members of the Hendricks Chapel Quilters who share a love of sewing and community. (Photo by Eliza Shenk ’28)
O’Rourke is one of 10-15 active members of the Hendricks Chapel Quilters—consisting of students, staff, faculty and community members—who put their love of sewing to good use weekly to produce beautiful quilts…
The 41st Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Planning Committee has announced the 2026 Unsung Hero Award winners: Jamie Sterling ’26, Eman Tadros, Pass Da R.O.C.K and Bettie Graham.
The Unsung Hero Award is given to community members, students, faculty and staff who have made a positive impact on the lives of others but are not widely recognized for their contributions. The awards were created to honor Dr. King’s vision of creating positive change in a troubled world.
The Unsung Heroes are the following:
Jamie Sterling ’26: Building Bridges Through Leadership
Jamie Sterling ’26
Sterling, an accounting major in the Martin J. Whitman School of Management, exemplifies leadership through his tireless work uplifting students across campus. As president of the Alpha Omicron chapter of Alpha Kappa Psi Professional Business Fraternity Inc. and sergeant at arms of the Distinguished Delta Zeta Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., the same organization Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. proudly served.
Sterling leads with humility, strengthening his organizations through inclusive decision-making and genuine care for each member’s growth.
His influence extends beyond Greek life. As senior advisor for the Black and Latinx Information Science and Technology Society, and through his involvement with the National Association of Black Accountants and Association of Latino Professionals for America, Sterling creates culturally affirming spaces and connects students to vital professional opportunities.
As a first-generation college student balancing academic excellence with community service, Sterling mirrors King’s vision of the “beloved community.” His contributions often occur behind the scenes—mentoring peers, volunteering locally and opening pathways for those who follow. Sterling embodies King’s conviction that true leadership is measured not by recognition but by impact, transforming lives through consistent, purposeful service.
On April 26, 2025, a small group of students gathered around a table for what would become the first “Peace Feast,” an interfaith initiative designed to cultivate friendship, trust, and meaningful dialogue between Christian and Muslim students at Syracuse University and SUNY-ESF.
Peace Feast was envisioned as a sacred space — one where students could speak openly about their faith, listen deeply to one another’s stories, and build relationships grounded in mutual respect.
City of Syracuse Mayor Sharon Owens ’85 will serve as the featured speaker for the 41st Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in the JMA Wireless Dome at Syracuse University. This year’s theme is “The Dream Lives Here.”
The wait is over! Tickets are now on sale for the Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration! Please read the info below, especially if you are buying a table, or two!
The speaker announcement will come soon, but you don’t have to wait! Buy your tickets now to make sure you don’t miss the traditional MLK Celebration meal, a variety of entertainers and a dynamic keynote speech!
The Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026 Doors open at 4:30 P.M. Dinner buffet is open from 5-6 P.M. Formal program begins at 6:15 P.M. JMA Wireless Dome at Syracuse University
Dinner buffets will open at 5 p.m. and will be held near the JMA Dome’s west end zone. Guests can enter the “Courtside Lounge and Suites” entrance located between Gates A and B. Halal, Kosher, gluten-free and vegetarian options will be available. This year all guests will remain at the tables for the program.
All tickets will be assigned a table number at the time of purchase, which will be included in the mobile tickets. Guests interested in sitting with friends are recommended to purchase tickets together to ensure the same table assignment.
Guests may order up to 8 dinner and program tickets online. To purchase one full table (8 seats), select 8 total tickets and proceed to checkout. To purchase more than one table or more than 8 individual tickets, or if experiencing difficulties, please call the JMA Dome Box Office at 1.888.DOME.TIX (315.443.2121), option four.
Buy tickets online at mlk.syr.edu, in person at the Dome Box Office inside Gate B at 900 Irving Ave. (Monday through Friday 8:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M.) or by phone (888.DOME.TIX or 315.443.2121, option four). Tickets will be mobile this year and uploaded directly to your MyCuse account to manage upon purchase. View the step-by-step guide on mobile ticketing for more information.
Free parking is available in the Irving Avenue Garage, the Raynor Lot, Henry Lot and the Standart Lot. American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation, AIRA and Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) will be available for the event.
For more information about the MLK Celebration or to request accommodations, contact Hendricks Chapel at chapel@syr.edu or 315.443.2901. Learn more about this and other Hendricks Chapel events by visiting chapel.syracuse.edu.
MOBILE TICKETS Your tickets are available to manage on your MyCuse Account using your mobile phone.
PARKING Free parking is available in the following Dome West Lot locations, please click the Waze links below for real-time wayfinding to the lots:
Shuttles: Complimentary shuttles to the Dome are available near the WEST lots and Irving Garage. Please see pick-up and drop-off locations marked by the S on the map.
Accessible Parking: Accessible parking is available on the 5th floor of Irving Avenue Garage, with an accessible entrance to the Dome via the skybridge at Gate C. An accessible drop-off location is available near the VIP/Suite Entrance located on Forestry Drive between Gates A and B at the Dome. Guests may also use the complimentary, accessible shuttle available near the West Lots and Irving Garage.
ENTER THE DOME
All guests will enter between Gates A and B at the VIP entrance on Forestry Drive.
ACCESSIBILITY
American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation and Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) will be available for the event. Accessible seating is provided on the concourse level of the JMA Wireless Dome.
ATTIRE All are welcome, regardless of clothing choice! Some will choose to dress up, some will be in business casual clothing, and some in jeans. Again, all are welcome!
For more information about the MLK Celebration or to request accommodations, contact Hendricks Chapel at chapel@syr.edu or 315.443.2901. Learn more about this and other Hendricks Chapel events by visiting chapel.syracuse.edu.
Rebecca Reed Kantrowitz has been officially appointed as the interim dean of Hendricks Chapel! Hendricks staff and chaplains have appreciated Rebecca’s support and gentle guidance for years and now we can officially call her Dean Kantrowitz! Please join me in congratulating Rebecca on this appointment and supporting her as she assumes these interim responsibilities. A search for a permanent Dean will begin during the spring semester.
Dean Kantrowitz with Assistant Dean for Religious & Spiritual Life Amir Durić in June 2025.
More about Dean Kantrowitz:
Kantrowitz brings four decades of student life experience and a deep commitment to Syracuse University to this role. She first joined the University in the 1980s as a residence hall director. She went on to hold positions at the University of California, Berkeley and Hamilton College before returning to Syracuse in 2002 as director of residence life.
Following 10 years in senior leadership in the Division of the Student Experience, Kantrowitz was appointed associate dean of Hendricks Chapel in 2018. There she has skillfully supported our chaplaincies, religious and spiritual life groups, and the Student Assembly of Interfaith Leaders, while overseeing critical initiatives including the Student Opportunity Fund and University food pantries.
Her leadership extends across campus through her service on the University Senate and into our broader community as a board member of InterFaith Works of Central New York. This combination of institutional knowledge, interfaith expertise and commitment to student well-being positions her to successfully guide Hendricks Chapel during this time of transition.
A transformational gift from Life Trustee and alumnus Daniel D’Aniello ’68, H’20 and his wife, Gayle, supported the construction of a new chapel and renovations.
Brendan Worobel ’26 and his twin sister Nicole ’26, seniors from Holmdel, New Jersey, found a home at the University’s Catholic Center. There, they found a welcoming community that helped them settle into life at Syracuse.
Brendan began attending Mass during his first year. Through the years, more of his friends, including his brothers from Theta Chi fraternity, have joined him for Mass and activities each week.
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.
When David Aitken ’94, G’97 first arrived at Syracuse University over 35 years ago, he couldn’t have imagined that Hendricks Chapel would shape his life.
Now, as the inaugural chair of the Hendricks Chapel Advisory Board, Aitken brings decades of engagement with the chapel as a student employee, building coordinator, parent, board member, and devoted alumnus to a role that will help shape its future as it approaches its 100th anniversary in 2030.
