On Tuesday, Waynesburg University students, faculty, and community members gathered in Roberts Chapel for a Martin Luther King Jr. Day Convocation that reflected on Dr. King’s life and faith. 

The ceremony featured remarks from Professor Ezekiel Olagoke, who spoke about Dr. King’s legacy and its importance in our world today. 

“When the president asked me to do it I was a little bit nervous,” Olagoke said. “But on an occasion like Martin Luther King Day, when Dr. King is an eminent historic figure in the United States, it was a great great honor for me to do that. I love it. I enjoyed it.”

A central theme of Olagoke’s message was perseverance and responsibility. He emphasized Dr. King’s idea of having a blueprint for life, encouraging listeners not to give up in the face of setbacks. 

“Even when you fail, keep on keeping on,” Olagoke said. “Don’t say, ‘that’s it.’ Keep on going. That’s a perfect message from yesterday. Dr. King encourages you to keep on keeping on with your life.” 

University Chaplain Anthony Jarrell highlighted the deeper spiritual message of the convocation, saying that Dr. King was “a faithful witness in his time and place to the hope of Christ.”

“This hope is not a passive hope, but one that takes seriously the world that God wants to redeem,” Jarrell said. “When individuals trust that God will fulfill his promises and live courageously in that hope, it can have a greater impact than we can imagine.”

Jarrell also expressed appreciation for Professor Ezekiel Olagoke’s role in the ceremony. 

“Dr. Olagoke is a gift to this university and has impacted many, including myself,” Jarrell said.

He noted the importance of Olagoke’s personal connection to Dr. King’s legacy, explaining that Olagoke was mentored by a professor who knew and worked with Dr. King. 

“The world is vast but it is also so small in how interconnected we all are,” Jarrell said. “Dr. King’s influence continues to reach communities like Waynesburg today.”

The convocation offered attendees a meaningful moment of reflection, tying Dr. King’s historic legacy to present-day faith, perseverance, and action.