First black, female astronaut presents MLK Service Award

Last Tuesday, finalist of the UNCG MLK Service Award sat down with Dr. Mae Jemison for dinner before the Martin Luther King, Jr Celebration 2010 at 7:00pm in the Elliott University Center Auditorium.

Dr. Mark Villacorta, Assistant Director of Multicultural Affairs, began the program with the emcee. Dr. Carol Disque, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, presented the MLK Service Award to Zimuzor “Zim” Ugochukwu. Ugochukwu was awarded with $200, a plaque, and campus recognition. Ugochukwu founded the Ignite Greensboro [Got Two?] Project that is student led, student built, and student run. Ignite Greensboro raises awarness for the International Civil Rights Center and Museum in Greensboro.

The Ignite Greensboro’s goal is to get students involved in the Greensboro community and aware of its culture and history.

One way Ignite Greensboro raises funds is by flash mobs that serve as free social experiments designed to highlight the lack of willingness to reach outside higher education institutions and/or institutions themselves.

Ignite Greensboro is sponsored by DoSomething.org, Campus Progress, and Community Foundation for a Greater Greensboro.

Alongside of Ugochukwa, Sydrena Scott, and Sharonda Bullock were finalist, for the Martin Luther King Jr. Service award.

Following a King Commemoration by the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. and choral selections by the Neo Black Society Gospel Choir, Dr. Mark Villacorta introduced the keynote speaker, Dr. Mae C Jemison.

Jemison was born in Decatur, Alabama in 1956, yet considering Chicago home. She is the youngest of three children and speaks four languages. Jemison completed NASA training in 1988 and served as a science mission specialist and took her claim to fame as the first women of color to go into space on the Endeavour shuttle in September, 1992 as it took flight from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Jemison left NASA in March 1993.
In her keynote address, Dr. Jemison gave the audience advice on how to make the best of their college experience. Jemison started by stating, “It is really important to not make to much out of an event, and to not make to little out of an event. The other thing is to be careful of who you hang out with because who you hang out with can really effect your prospective on life.” Throughout her address she kept the audience members intrigued and on the edge of their seats as she spoke to them in honestly and offering encouraging words of wisdom.

Now, Jemison is the Founder and President of two technology companies, the Dorothy Jemison Foundation for Excellence, and the BioSentient Corporation.

Books that Jemison have wrote include “Find Where the Wind Goes: Moments From My Life” and “S.E.E.ing the Future: Science, Engineering and Education.”

Following her keynote address, there was a question and answer session and special presentation by Dr. Tara Green, Director of African American Studies Program, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, INC.

Villacorta ended the program with closing remarks, while Dr. Jemison continued with a book signing after the conclusion of the program.

For more information on the 2010 MLK Service Award winner visit: http://maf.dept.uncg.edu/MLK/nominees.html