By: Marisela Cadena-Smith
The annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Power Leadership Breakfast drew a packed house to Collin College’s Plano Campus (Spring Creek) Living Legends Conference Center, Jan. 18. The event celebrates Dr. King’s legacy and his vision for a more just, equitable world.
In keeping with the year 2020, the theme of this year’s breakfast was “Hindsight, Insight, Foresight.” The event, which was sponsored this year by Huawei, included a resolution from Gov. Greg Abbott presented by State Representatives Matt Shaheen (District 66), Jeff Leach (District 67), and Candy Noble (District 89), a proclamation from the city of Plano delivered by Mayor Pro Tem Rick Smith, a keynote address by Presbyterian Pastor Dr. Clay Brantley, student presentations and performances, and the announcement of multiple scholarships.
The event honored the following students and community members:
• Collin College student Bailey Phillips received the Dollie Thomas scholarship, named for a Plano Legend who has been a dedicated, eloquent, and graceful champion for her city. Phillips’ service includes the Heritage Committee, Douglass Visions, PISD Diversity Advisory Committee, Plano African American Museum, Leadership Plano, City of Plano Tax Increment Finance Committee, Douglass Community Arts Advisor, City of Plano Self Sufficient Board, Douglass Neighborhood Association, Jewish Family Services, and PISD mentorship.
• Collin College student Patricia Vicenty Marquez was awarded a scholarship sponsored by the Plano North Metroplex Chapter of The Links, Incorporated.
• Collin College student Tonya Oakley was awarded the Pearls of Service, Inc. scholarship sponsored by the Chi Zeta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.
The annual celebration is organized by the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Power Leadership Breakfast Committee. Donations for the MLK scholarship fund are accepted throughout the year through the Collin College Foundation. For more information on making a gift to this fund, call 972.599.3145. More photos of the breakfast event are available at https://collincollege.resourcespace.com/?c=1129&k=903caaee0a.
Collin College serves more than 59,000 credit and continuing education students annually and offers more than 100 degrees and certificates, including new Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and Bachelor of Applied Technology in Cybersecurity (BAT) degrees. The only public college based in Collin County, Collin College is a partner to business, government, and industry, providing customized training and work force development. In addition, the college operates the Collin Higher Education Center, which has an enrollment of 3,500 each year in partnership with The University of Texas at Dallas, Texas Woman’s University, Texas A&M Commerce, Texas Tech and the University of North Texas. For more information, visit www.collin.edu.
Photo Credit: Nick Young, Collin College photographer
