Somerset Community College Announces Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Breakfast

Published on Jan 10, 2025

Somerset Community College (SCC) invites students, faculty, staff, and community members to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at the annual Unity Breakfast on Friday, January 17, 2025. The event will take place at 8:30 AM in Meece Auditorium on the SCC campus.  

The SCC Culinary Arts Department will prepare a delicious breakfast buffet for attendees. The morning will begin with welcoming remarks by SCC President/CEO Dr. Carey Castle. Emceeing the gathering will be SCC Dean of Arts and Sciences, Jonathan (Jon) Burlew. Greetings will be delivered by Somerset Mayor Alan Keck and Pulaski County Public Information Officer, John P. Alexander. The Reverend Norman Franklin, a prominent local opinion columnist and author, will provide the invocation.  

This year’s Unity Breakfast will feature a special reading honoring Dr. King, presented by Rikiyah Pryor and Kathy Perkins Townsend. SCC Professor Melinda Allen will introduce this year’s keynote speaker, Dr. Rick W. Smith, Sr.  

An esteemed leader in higher education. Smith has over 30 years of experience in various sectors including higher education administration, nonprofit leadership, and public relations. He previously served as the Senior Vice President of Administration and Institutional Advancement at Simmons College of Kentucky and has recently been named President-Elect of Dallas College Northlake. Dr. Smith is also a published author, with his book, “They Keep Moving the Goalpost: How to Move Around Obstacles and on to Opportunities,” having achieved Amazon Best Seller status. 

This annual event fosters unity and collaboration within our community, bringing together individuals from all walks of life, including representatives from the thirteen counties that SCC proudly serves. Everyone is welcome to join the celebration of Dr. King’s enduring impact. For additional information or to RSVP, please contact Dr. Elaine A. Wilson at (606) 451-6915 or via email at elaine.wilson@kctcs.edu. We look forward to a memorable and inspiring Unity Breakfast this year!