17
January
2019
|
09:05 AM
America/Chicago

UHD Participates in MLK Day Events

Summary

By Paige Caldwell

The University of Houston-Downtown (UHD) will observe Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s memory by supporting those in need and promoting pride in the community.

Each year on the third Monday in January, the nation commemorates the lasting legacy of the civil rights activist.

Here in Houston, the MLK Grande Parade will celebrate its 25th anniversary of honoring the noted leader beginning at 10 a.m., Monday, Jan. 21.

The one-mile procession will kick off in Houston's Midtown at Elgin and San Jacinto Streets and head northbound. Joining the parade will be UHD’s Cheer Team and Gatorettes Dance Team. The Gator mascot also will be in attendance. It will be the fifth year that UHD’s spirit ambassadors participate in this event.

“It has been a great experience and opportunity to be involved in these types of citywide events,” said UHD cheerleader Elizabeth Trujillo. “It promotes not only institutional pride, but also pride for the city of Houston, all while honoring the great Dr. King and everything he stood for.”

Also held annually on MLK Day is the National Day of Service. In observance, approximately 100 Gators will volunteer in Houston’s Fifth Ward community for UHD’s bi-annual GatorServe event.

Online registration is still available for volunteers, who will meet at 8 a.m. at Bryce-Dorian Park (2000 Erastus St.). From there, volunteers will disperse in the nearby neighborhood to complete a wide range of service projects focusing on providing assistance to elderly residents within the area.

The GatorServe event, coordinated by UHD’s Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning, is open to students, staff, faculty, alumni, community members, and families are welcome to volunteer.

 

About the University of Houston-Downtown

The University of Houston-Downtown (UHD) is the second-largest university in Houston and has served the educational needs of the nation’s fourth-largest city since 1974. As one of four distinct public universities in the University of Houston System, UHD is a comprehensive, four-year university led by President Loren J. Blanchard. Annually, UHD educates approximately 14,000 students, boasts more than 66,000 alumni, and offers 45 bachelor’s degrees, 12 master’s degrees, and 19 online programs within four colleges: Marilyn Davies College of Business, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, College of Public Service, and College of Sciences and Technology. UHD has one of the lowest tuition rates in Texas.

U.S. News and World Report ranked UHD among the nation’s Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Applied Administration and Best Online Master’s Programs in Criminal Justice, as well as a Top Performer in Social Mobility. The Wall Street Journal/College Pulse ranked UHD one of the best colleges in the U.S. for its 2024 rankings, with notable distinctions: No. 1 for diversity (tied) and No. 3 for student experience. The University is designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution, a Minority-Serving Institution, and a Military Friendly School. For more information on the University of Houston-Downtown, visit uhd.edu.