Loyola Academy Community Gathers for MLK Day Assembly Centered on Light, Justice, and Action

From the opening processional—featuring an excerpt from Dr. King's "The Drum Major Instinct"—to the closing communal commitment, the assembly emphasized that Dr. King’s legacy is not confined to history, but lives on through everyday choices rooted in love, courage, and action.

 

"This assembly was intentionally designed to move beyond remembrance and toward responsibility," said Sarah Bennett, director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. "Dr. King reminds us that light is not passive. In the Jesuit tradition, reflection must lead to action—and our hope is that students left not only inspired, but compelled to live differently in how they listen, love, and lead."

 

Senior Rachel Takyi reflected on the experience of preparing for the assembly, sharing that the process itself became a moment of growth. "Practicing for the MLK assembly made me realize how much I was learning along the way. It wasn't just about getting up and speaking—it was about really thinking about Dr. King's impact and seeing how many people were there to understand it too," she said. "It reminded me that his message isn't something we remember just once a year, but something we carry with us by paying attention to others and showing up for more than just ourselves."

 

The keynote address was delivered by John G. Igwebuike, PhD, director of School Culture at Saint Ignatius College Prep. Drawing on Dr. King's vision of the Beloved Community, Dr. Igwebuike invited students to consider what it means to cultivate the conviction to care, face fear with faith, and live their lives as a light for others. "Great things happen when somebody cares," he shared, challenging the community to see care not as sentiment, but as a courageous and transformative choice.

 

Moments of artistic reflection played a central role throughout the program. A spoken-word performance of "I AM," built around the refrain "We are the light we’ve been waiting for," and a moving choral rendition of "Lift Every Voice and Sing," performed by Loyola Academy’s Jazz Band and Chambers Choir, invited the community to engage not just intellectually, but emotionally and spiritually. Throughout the assembly, piano accompaniment by Julian Patterson provided a unifying musical throughline, underscoring moments of prayer, reflection, and communal commitment.

 

For many students, the experience was both affirming and challenging.

 

"Listening to Dr. King's words alongside student voices made it feel real and present," said senior Aman Yohannes, who read excerpts from "The Purpose of Education." "It reminded me that education isn’t just about success—it’s about who we’re becoming and how we serve others."

 

Junior Xena Aba, who led the closing reflection and communal commitment, echoed that sentiment. She reminded the community that holding this assembly each year matters not just as a tradition, but as a call to amplify voices that are too often unheard. Change, she noted, is possible, but only if we take responsibility for it. Faith, Xena emphasized, is never passive; it is always a call to action.

 

The assembly also honored members of the Loyola community through the “Light in Our Community” spotlights, recognizing individuals whose daily actions reflect humility, compassion, and quiet leadership. Those honored included Baba Diabor '26, Madds Starmann '26, Robin Harkness from Safety and Security, and Cynthia Mazariegos '03, an immigration attorney whose work embodies a commitment to justice and advocacy for others.

 

As the final notes of "Lift Every Voice and Sing" filled the gym and students exited in reflective silence, the message was clear: Dr. King’s legacy endures not through applause, but through transformation.

 

Together, the Loyola Academy community was sent forth with a shared commitment—to see more clearly, love more intentionally, and act more courageously—carrying light into their classrooms, their relationships, and their world.

 

We extend our sincere gratitude to the many students, faculty, staff, musicians, and leaders who helped plan, prepare, and participate in this year's MLK Day Assembly. Through their collaboration, creativity, and commitment, they created a space for reflection, prayer, and action that honored Dr. King's legacy and strengthened our community's shared call to be people of light.