OSU’s annual Peace Breakfast honors the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and features guest speakers, the presentation of legacy awards to community members for exemplary service, and caps off the morning with the Peace March from the LaSells Stewart Center to the Student Experience Center Plaza in Corvallis. 2018’s Peace Breakfast took place on January 15 and featured a keynote address from political commentator and Maya Angelou Presidential Chair at Wake Forest Melissa Harris-Perry.

OSU’s Frances Dancy Hooks Award was established after longtime civil rights activist Frances Dancy Hooks delivered 1994’s Peace Breakfast’s keynote address. The award recognizes Oregon State students, staff, or faculty who exemplify Frances Dancy Hooks’ work: building bridges across cultures, showing courage in promoting diversity, and proudly “Walking the Talk.”

2018’s recipient of the award is SEIU 503 Sublocal 083’s President Leonora Rianda! Leonora has been an Office Specialist at OSU for over 15 years and her continued leadership and commitment to diversity and inclusion lead to a handful of nominations by faculty in OSU’s Ethnic Studies Department. Congratulations to Leo and the entire OSU Sublocal 083!

Click here to learn more about the Frances Dancy Hooks Award.