A faculty member at Michigan Tech is the recipient of an inaugural award recognizing her efforts to bring people together.
Manager of Global Engagement Programs Darnishia Slade of the Pavlis Honors College was awarded the first ever Bayard Rustin Award by the National Society of Black Engineers at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. banquet in January.
Rustin was a key figure working behind the scenes, helping Dr. King spread his message. Slade said, “He was to go-to man. He was the grassroot guy. He helped Dr. King to organize a lot of the massive marches that were done back in the 60’s and 70’s, and so he was boots to the ground, he was the right hand man and he didn’t need the limelight. He was just doing the hard work that needed to be done for Dr. King’s message to get out to the masses.”
Slade says she takes great pride in being selected for this award as she, too, tries to help others reach their full potential. “That’s what I’ve always done in my life is really is help to carry on whatever that vision and the goal or the dream that others have had, ” she said.
You can hear the entire interview with Darnishia Slade on this Sunday’s episode of Copper Country Today at 7:00am on 97.7 The Wolf, 8:00am on 99.3 The Lift, and 9:00am on KBear 102.3, or any time at http://www.keweenawreport.com/category/c-c-today/.
Michigan Tech will be hosting a series of events this month in recognition of Black History Month, hosted by the Center for Diversity and Inclusion.
Read more about Darnishia Slade and the Bayard Rustin Award on MTU’s The Lode website.