Presbyterian College honored the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with a week of events surrounding his birthday.

PC students served the Laurens County community during their MLK Day of Service on Monday, January 15. Students volunteered at nearly 15 nonprofits in Laurens and Clinton throughout the day. Some visited seniors at four senior living communities, while others visited children at Thornwell Home for Children. Still, other students lived out the PC motto, “While we live, we serve,” by volunteering at area churches, homeless shelters, the local Hospice thrift store, and other charities.

“Students said that they feel plugged in with the Laurens County community because of the Martin Luther King Day of Service,” Rev. Beatrix Weil, PC’s chaplaincy resident, said.

“Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. stood for changing systems of injustice. Change only happens from a place of love and relationship. I believe that PC students grew in love for and relationship with the Laurens County community through MLK Day of Service this year.”

On Wednesday, January 24, PC students, faculty, and staff will be able to donate blood through The Blood Connection. They also will be able to volunteer their time helping the international hunger relief organization Rise Against Hunger at First Presbyterian Church in Clinton. Students and local community members will prepare more than 20,000 meals for the needy. Due to weather, the blood drive and food preparation events were rescheduled from Wednesday, January 17. Students and those in the community also helped the hungry by donating canned goods rather than buying a ticket to the women’s basketball game on Saturday, January 13.

Speaker Discusses King’s Legacy

PC held a Martin Luther King convocation in Edmunds Hall on the birthday of Dr. King. Former president of Tuskegee University, Dr. Brian Johnson, was the featured convocation speaker.

Johnson spoke about the importance of a person using his head, heart, and hands in any profession they choose.

“In the 19th century, one’s vocation was determined by where your heart was, where your head was, and where your hands were,” Johnson said.

Johnson told the audience of students that they can come to PC en route to becoming a lawyer or physician’s assistant, for example, but they must be grounded in virtue. Otherwise, they’re rooted in selfishness.

“We can train your hands with skills, and we can fill your head with knowledge,” Johnson said, “but it’s all rooted in having a true heart.”

Johnson went on to talk about emulating Dr. King and what he represents for us today.

“When we seek to emulate (Dr. King) on Martin Luther King Day,” Johnson said, “let’s be mindful that his character was both founded in faith and reason.”

“Character is all about consistency. Character is not your lowest moment. Character is not your highest moment.”

“Character is who you are, without the title of reverend or the title of doctor. And I think that’s what Martin Luther King, Jr. represents for us.”

Presbyterian College is located on a 240-acre campus in Clinton, between Columbia and Greenville, S.C. Offering challenging academics and a culture of honor, ethics, and service that prepares students to be leaders in communities, PC offers its students the benefit of engaging with an exceptional faculty who take individual interest in their students’ well-being, both personally and in the classroom. The Presbyterian College School of Pharmacy is dedicated to the ideals of leadership, honor to the profession, and service to the community. For more information about Presbyterian College, visit www.presby.edu.