Realizing the Dreams of MLK

Each year, Clemson University recognizes individuals who actualize the dreams of Martin Luther King Jr. On a campus so service- and diversity-focused, narrowing down the field of nominees is never easy.

Yet among all the student nominations received, one nomination stood out – for junior Callie Boyd – earning her the student 2008 Martin Luther King Jr. Award for Excellence in Service.

“This award means a lot to me,” Boyd said. “Dr. King was an amazing pioneer of civil rights in our country and to be recognized with an award named after him is humbling.”

Most important to Boyd is educating people that they are okay just as they are, an issue that goes beyond race.

“Racial diversity is not the only important issue facing Clemson,” she said. “There are many other forms of diversity such as gender, ethnic, religious and sexual orientation.”

Her nominator wrote that Boyd “is an instigator of change. She is THE student leader on women's initiatives around campus.” The nomination cited Boyd’s work in planning networking luncheons for women and April’s upcoming Women's Leadership Conference; her involvement in teaching middle and high schools girls about self-esteem and body image; and her role in teaching incoming freshmen about respect as part of the "One Clemson: Yours, Mine and Ours" program.

Her love of Clemson also fuels her desire to serve other students. “Clemson is so special to me,” she said, “because it has provided a home away from home. I am part of a much larger family that I will always value and appreciate.”

She wants others to feel a part of the family, too. To make sure that happens, she works with Clemson groups like the Sophomore Year Experience and the Gantt Intercultural Center to ensure that all students feel included and respected on campus. She believes that inclusion and diversity awareness are more important now than ever.

“Clemson has a checkered past when it comes to diversity, but we have shown our true colors over the past few decades,” Boyd said. “Even the difficulties we have faced over the past two years have brought out the best in Clemson. We have shown that we truly do believe in diversity and service.”

Boyd is a junior health science major from Greenville, expecting to graduate in May 2009. Go online to learn more about the MLK awards.