Dr. Lance Tatum, President | Northwest Missouri State University
Dr. Lance Tatum, President | Northwest Missouri State University
Northwest Missouri State University has announced the opening of nominations for its Community Impact Award as part of preparations for the 2026 MLK Celebration Week. The annual event honors the life and legacy of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and will take place from Monday, January 19, through Friday, January 23.
All events during the week are free and open to the public. The highlight is the Peace Luncheon on January 23 at the J.W. Jones Student Union, where award recipients will be recognized for their contributions to Northwest and the broader Maryville community.
The Community Impact Award acknowledges faculty, staff, students, and community members who have demonstrated commitment through volunteerism, engagement, scholarship, research, teaching or program development in alignment with King's values. Recipients are selected based on their sustained efforts to improve well-being within the university and beyond.
“Recognizing those who serve our community reminds us that lasting change begins with ordinary people choosing to act with compassion and commitment,” said Dr. Shay Malone, assistant vice president of institutional excellence and global engagement at Northwest Missouri State University. “Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. embodied the tenets of servant leadership — the belief that true leadership is demonstrated through service. By honoring our faculty, staff, students and community partners, we celebrate the actions people take, the power of connection and the collective impact that moves us all forward.”
This year’s keynote speaker for the luncheon is Pamela Westbrooks-Hodge, a Northwest alumna from the class of 1991. Westbrooks-Hodge has held leadership roles at Express Scripts, Anheuser-Busch and Bank of America over her three-decade career focused on advancing excellence, equity and justice. She currently serves on the Missouri State Board of Education and chairs its Strategic Planning Committee while also participating in statewide education funding efforts.
Classes at Northwest Missouri State University will not be held on Monday, January 19 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day; university offices will also be closed.
MLK Celebration Week activities are sponsored by Northwest’s Center for Engagement and Community Connection.
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