To commemorate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Lawrence Technological University will participate in a two-part MLK Service Event on Jan. 16 and Jan. 18.

On Jan. 16, Lawrence Tech will join students from Ferndale’s University High School (UHS) in a day of service in honor of King’s commitment to others. The volunteers will do improvement projects at UHS, such as painting, cleaning, and other forms of beautification, as well as other projects in the community. Lawrence Tech students who volunteer that day will also have the opportunity to mentor the students and share stories about student life.

UHS is a public high school with a rigorous college prep curriculum with college success as its primary goal for students. Ferndale Public Schools established UHS several years ago in partnership with Lawrence Tech.

Two days later on Jan. 18, Lawrence Tech will join an existing partnership between University of Michigan-Dearborn, Henry Ford Community College, Madonna University, and the United Way of Southeastern Michigan to provide volunteers to local community agencies and inspire long-lasting and positive change throughout the Metro Detroit area. This partnership started this past winter with more than 800 students volunteering in Detroit.

The Jan. 16 event is open to 50 Lawrence Tech representatives. The Jan. 18 event has unlimited spaces for Lawrence Tech.

To register for the Jan. 16 event, interested individuals should contact Jessica Shaddawvine, AmeriCorps*VISTA, at ext. 2416 or jshaddawv@ltu.edu. The event coordinators also include Campus Engagement Fellowship sophomore Anna Spens and freshman Christopher Harris. Melissa Grunow, leadership curriculum coordinator, is their advisor.

To register for the National Day of Service event, visit http://tinyurl.com/ykhbwfc.

For more information about both projects, visit www.ltu.edu/leadership or contact Shaddawvine.

Registration for both projects runs until Jan. 10. All participants who register on time will be assigned to a service site and be given a T-shirt to wear on their day of service. T-shirts cannot be guaranteed after Jan.10.

Lawrence Tech’s participation comes at a time when the University is putting a stronger emphasis on leadership development and civic engagement.

This two-part event is Lawrence Tech’s commitment to the national Martin Luther King Day of Service in which individuals are encouraged to “Make it a Day On, Not a Day Off.”  The project is partially funded by two grants, Campus Engagement Fellows and the MLK Challenge Grant, which are provided by the Michigan Campus Compact, the Corporation for National and Community Service, and Learn and Serve.

The University is open and classes are held on Martin Luther King Day. Students, faculty, and staff who want to participate in the national Martin Luther King Day of Service project or Freedom Walk may be excused, upon request, from scheduled classes, office hours, and meetings from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Temporary help, substitute instruction, and rescheduling will be provided as needed. During this period, all mandatory activities such as exams, presentations or other graded activities will be deferred, although assignments may be made by e-mail.