College Community Demonstrates “Blueprint for Change” at 13th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship Celebration

The 13th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Celebration brought together students, educators, and community members to reflect on the responsibility of building a more just and equitable society through intentional action. Centered on the theme “Blueprint for Change,” the event emphasized that progress is shaped through purpose, planning, and a shared commitment to the collective good.

Inspired by Dr. King’s 1967 “What Is Your Life’s Blueprint?” address, this year’s celebration highlighted how individual service contributes to broader social change. In his remarks, Rudy Besikof, Ed.D., president of Moreno Valley College, recalled King’s words to the students of Barratt Junior High School, noting the call for young people to pursue excellence in their chosen fields. He said this year’s honorees demonstrate that message through their commitment, perseverance, and dedication to making a positive difference in their communities.

The eleven student scholarship recipients, representing Moreno Valley Unified School District, Val Verde Unified School District, and Moreno Valley College, demonstrated the theme through essays, speeches, and spoken word performances that showcased leadership, resilience, and civic responsibility.

Among the honorees:

• Celeste De Lucia (Moreno Valley USD) spoke on building a life rooted in empathy and courage, emphasizing leadership that creates safety and opportunity for others.
• Bayann Jadallah (Val Verde USD) connected moral integrity with action, calling for consistency and accountability in the pursuit of justice.
• Tyler Cuie (Moreno Valley USD) and Lailani Brady (Moreno Valley USD) used spoken word to address inclusion and mental health, demonstrating how personal narrative can inspire collective awareness.
• Michael Davis, Jr. (MVC) shared how perseverance, faith, and service shape his journey as a student, entrepreneur, and mentor, embodying a vision for meaningful impact in his community.

Additional student recipients included Nevaeh Montgomery and Jazae-Zehra Rizvi from Moreno Valley Unified School District, Matthew Andrada and Makenna Mattox from Val Verde Unified School District, and Lauryn Chin and Temedia Mayo-Hardaway from Moreno Valley College.

Beyond student recognition, the college presented the MVC MLK Legacy Award to Bishop L. Kirk Sykes and Pastor Karen Sykes of CrossWord Christian Church. Their decades of outreach and scholarship support represent the sustained effort required to turn vision into community action.

The event’s success was made possible by donors, volunteers, and campus partners whose collective investment provides the mentorship and resources students need to succeed.

“Thank you for being a beautiful reflection for change and living the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. All of it mattered and all of the ways that you show up daily, matters…one moment and intentional action at a time,” said Micki Grayson, director of TRIO Programs and co-chair of the MLK Scholarship Committee.

Through these voices and partnerships, the celebration reaffirmed that building a better future requires more than thought; it requires a willingness to contribute to something larger than oneself, one thoughtful action at a time.

To contribute to the Moreno Valley College MLK Scholarship Fund, please visit the RCCD Foundation donation page and specify the MVC MLK fund.