USCA and Aiken Tech Celebrate Unity and Advocacy during MLK Community Event

Community members gathered on Sunday, Jan. 26, to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King's legacy at the Community Celebration held at the USCA Convocation Center. 

The annual event, hosted by the University of South Carolina Aiken and Aiken Tech, pays tribute to Dr. King’s enduring legacy and acknowledges the efforts of individuals in the Aiken community who embody the spirit of his work. 

Gail Diggs, chair of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Celebration, opened the ceremony. "We may have arrived on different ships, but we’re all in the same boat," she said to invite attendees to reflect on the contributions of the late Dr. King.

The program's theme was drawn from one of Dr. King’s 1959 speech at the March for Integrated Schools, "Make a career of humanity. Commit yourself to the noble struggle for equal rights. You will make a better person of yourself, a greater nation of your country, and a finer world to live in." 

The event featured many distinguished guests from around the Aiken area, including USCA alumna Christale Spain '99, who served as the keynote speaker.

Spain is the first black woman to serve as Chair of the South Carolina Democratic Party.  

While at USCA, she became the only basketball player to achieve over 1,000 career points and over 1,000 career rebounds. Spain is also a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., a community-conscious, action-oriented organization founded in 1920. 

In her speech, Spain reflected on the significance of Dr. King’s legacy to her and shared how her family’s story of resilience has shaped who she is. “My family’s story is one that I carried with me when I ran to become the chair of the Democratic Party of South Carolina and when I represented the South Carolina Democratic Party during the 2024 Democratic National Convention,” she said. “I wasn’t only speaking for myself but for my family, my ancestors, and communities across South Carolina who fought to overcome oppression and build a brighter future.”  

USCA student Skylar Shirey, a junior in special education, said she found Spain’s message extremely valuable given the current political climate. “The world needs more people coming together to celebrate with each other than the separation that surrounds us today.” 

Shirey was awarded the Human and Civil Rights Student Champion Award for her humanitarian work as a student assistant with the USCA LIFE (Learning is for Everyone) program.  

“I often say that working with individuals with special needs is not difficult, just different.” 

One of her favorite Dr. King quotes is “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” Shirey said that this quote exhibits how she strives to go through life each day. 

 She hopes that receiving the Human and Civil Rights Student Champion Award will help raise awareness about the importance of advocating for and representing individuals with special needs. “I believe this award will open doors for me to speak in larger forums, helping me spread my message and drive change—not just on campus, but across the country. People with special needs deserve the same opportunities and respect as everyone else.”

Additionally, students from K-12 schools throughout the Aiken area were recognized during the annual poster and essay contests, encouraging students to reflect on Dr. King’s legacy.