Photographer: Heather Coit

Event speaker Christopher Benson, associate dean at the College of Media and associate professor of journalism and of African-American studies at the University of Illinois, challenges the audience to end each day exhausted after taking time to make a difference in life during takes the podium as that evening's speaker during a Service of Celebration honoring the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. at Foellinger Great Hall at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts in Urbana, Ill on Sunday, Jan. 15, 2012.

Photographer: Heather Coit

Central High School's Traniece Washington, left, hugs William Volk, scholarship committee co-chair, after being named an alternate scholarship recipient at a Service of Celebration honoring The Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. at Foellinger Great Hall at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts in Urbana, Ill on Sunday, Jan. 15, 2012. Urbana High School's Christopher Johnson was named the other alternate.

Photographer: Heather Coit

Phyllis Wise, University of Illinois vice president and chancellor, greets the audience at a Service of Celebration honoring The Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. at Foellinger Great Hall at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts in Urbana, Ill on Sunday, Jan. 15, 2012.

Photographer: Heather Coit

Members of the Community Choir give a rousing, spiritual performance at a Service of Celebration to honor the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.at Foellinger Great Hall at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts in Urbana, Ill on Sunday, Jan. 15, 2012.

Photographer: Heather Coit

The Rev. Evelyn Underwood, scholarship selection committee co-chair, embraces Urbana High School's D'Mario Turner as names of this year's the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. scholarship recipients are called out at a Service of Celebration honoring King, Jr. at Foellinger Great Hall at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts in Urbana, Ill on Sunday, Jan. 15, 2012.

Photographer: Heather Coit

Event speaker, Christopher Benson, associate dean at the College of Media and associate professor of journalism and of African-American studies at the University of Illinois, accepts applause from the audience as Menah Pratt-Clarke, far right, UI associate chancellor, looks on at the Service of Celebration honoring the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. at Foellinger Great Hall at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts in Urbana, Ill on Sunday, Jan. 15, 2012.

Photographer: Heather Coit

The audience is brought to their feet as they enjoy a rousing performance by the Community Choir at a Service of Celebration honoring The Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. at Foellinger Great Hall at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts in Urbana, Ill on Sunday, Jan. 15, 2012.

Photographer: Heather Coit

Singers of all ages with the Community Choir perform at a Service of Celebration honoring The Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. at Foellinger Great Hall at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts in Urbana, Ill on Sunday, Jan. 15, 2012.

Photographer: Heather Coit

The final scholarship recipient, Aaron Winston, of Urbana High School, is called, as fellow recipients, from left, DaNeya Burnett (Central High School), Montego Dubose (Centennial High School), Jessica Heath (Central), Jamil Henderson (Central), Agathe Illunga (Central), Dominique Johnson (Urbana), Waleed Khan (Central), Traeiaunna King (Centennial) and D'Mario Turner (Urbana) look on at a Service of Celebration honoring The Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. at Foellinger Great Hall at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts in Urbana, Ill on Sunday, Jan. 15, 2012.

Photographer: Heather Coit

William Volk, left, scholarship selection committee co-chair, congratulates scholarship recipient, Waleed Khan, as The Rev. Evelyn Underwood, committee co-chair, and Rabbi Norman Klein, background left, look on at a Service of Celebration honoring The Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. at Foellinger Great Hall at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts in Urbana, Ill on Sunday, Jan. 15, 2012.

Photographer: Heather Coit

The Rev. Claude Shelby, Sr. prepares to introduce that evening's speaker, Christopher Benson, at a Service of Celebration honoring Martin Luther King, Jr. at Foellinger Great Hall at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts in Urbana, Ill on Sunday, Jan. 15, 2012.