Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration
Dream Again at Anderson University
Each year on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Anderson University pauses its academic schedule to bring students, faculty, staff, and the greater Anderson community together. This intentional day of reflection honors the life and legacy of the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., while also renewing AU’s shared commitment to social justice and racial equity.
The 2026 celebration will take place Monday, Jan. 19, and Tuesday, Jan. 20. This year’s theme, Dream Again, connects with the university chapel theme, Begin Again. Together, these themes invite the AU community to reflect, challenge one another, and continue dreaming Dr. King’s dream alongside Jesus’ vision of God’s loving and diverse kingdom on earth.
Monday’s events begin with The Gathering from 10 to 11:30 a.m. in the Reardon Auditorium lobby. This opening moment sets the tone for the day, offering reflection and inspiration drawn from Dr. King’s life and leadership. Immediately following The Gathering, students will be shuttled to downtown Anderson for the Anderson Citywide MLK Day Celebration at the Paramount Theatre. From noon to 1:30 p.m., the AU community will join residents across the city in honoring Dr. King’s enduring impact.
After the citywide celebration, students will return to campus for Lunch, MLK Day Reflections, and Action Steps from 1:45 to 2:30 p.m. in the Reardon Auditorium lobby. This time encourages participants to process what they have heard and consider how Dr. King’s message continues to shape action today.
The celebration continues Tuesday, Jan. 20, with the annual MLK Day chapel from 11 to 11:50 a.m. in Reardon Auditorium. This chapel experience is a cornerstone of the observance and invites the campus to worship, reflect, and recommit together.
The theme Dream Again is rooted in Dr. King’s enduring words and vision. As he famously said, “…when all of God’s children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics will be able to join hands and sing… free at last.” This vision remains central to the purpose of the MLK celebration at AU.
“We are so excited to host our annual Martin Luther King Day Celebration on Monday, January 19, 2026. Our theme this year, “Dream Again,” is connected with our Chapel Theme, “Begin Again,” and we’re looking forward to reflecting, challenging, and encouraging each other to keep dreaming MLK’s and Jesus’ dream of seeing and experiencing God’s loving, diverse Kingdom in heaven, on earth.” B. Martin
Members of the community are also invited to help turn dreams into reality by supporting the Multicultural Student Success Fund. Contributions to this fund help students overcome financial barriers that threaten their ability to pursue their academic goals.
Through worship, reflection, and shared action, Anderson University’s 2026 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration offers space to honor the past while continuing the work of dreaming and beginning again.
About Anderson University
Anderson University educates students for lives of faith and service, offering more than 50 undergraduate majors, 30 three-year degrees, 18 NCAA Division III intercollegiate sports, alongside adult, graduate, and online programs. The private, liberal arts institution is fully accredited and recognized for excellence in business, computer science, cybersecurity, engineering, music, nursing, psychology, social work, and teacher education programs. Established in 1917 in Anderson, Indiana, by the Church of God, the university remains committed to its Christ-centered mission.
