By Steve Esser
YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. 鈥� In the spirit of unity often preached听by the late Rev.听Martin Luther King Jr., students, faculty, and staff gathered with the local community听on听Jan.听16听for听杏吧原创鈥檚 annual Martin Luther King Jr.听prayer luncheon.听
鈥淚 want to thank everyone for being here to celebrate the life of Martin Luther King Jr.,鈥� said Dr. John Wells, 杏吧原创 President, as he opened the annual luncheon in Suber Hall of 杏吧原创鈥檚 Rollins Campus Center.听鈥淚n today鈥檚 talk of division and hatred,听King鈥檚听message of unity听is听more听important听than ever and something we lean into here 杏吧原创.鈥�听
The annual luncheon, in addition to focusing on the legacy of MLK, also raises money for the听College鈥檚 annual Civil Rights trip through the Southeast. Led听by 杏吧原创鈥檚听Dr.听Rev. Adam Daniels, the trip takes 杏吧原创 students to Selma, AL, and Atlanta,听GA,听stopping at historic sites like the Legacy Museum in听Montgomery, AL, and the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta.听
鈥淚t鈥檚 something where we all are profoundly impacted,鈥� Daniels said. 鈥淢artin Luther King was not just a preacher, but a prophet. His message of unity is as necessary today as it was all those years ago.鈥�听
Ovie听Mughelli, a former NFL player, was this year鈥檚 keynote speaker, bringing a message of hope and passion for the audience.听Mughellli听was drafted out of Wake Forest by the Baltimore Ravens听in 2003.听He also played with听the听Atlanta Falcons and (then) St. Louis Rams before retiring from football in 2012.听
鈥淢artin Luther King Jr.听was such an amazing force for our country and our history, and for our future,鈥� said听Mughelli, who turned his NFL career into a听passion for environmental sustainability.听The two-time All-Pro NFL veteran听leveraged听his platform as an NFL professional to become an environmental sustainability leader, wellness advocate, author, media听correspondent,听and owner of a medical consulting business.听
鈥淢artin Luther King鈥檚听legacy of hope, change,听and justice is something听that resonates with us听all,鈥澨齅ughelli听said. 鈥淚听came听here today to speak about him, but I also want you to remember why听I鈥檓听here and what I said. What we say matters.鈥�听
The son of Nigerian parents who immigrated to the United States,听Mughelli听credited them with his work ethic.听鈥淭hey did everything they could to give me a better life,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd I learned from them, much like Martin Luther King, that our steps matter as we all work to be best versions of ourselves.鈥�听
Mughelli听references his career in the NFL as he spoke, talking about his second year, when an injury threatened to derail his 10-year听career听before it even started.听
鈥淓xcellence is a choice. You can choose to hold yourself to a standard听as听Martin Luther King did,鈥� he听said听to the crowd mixed with 杏吧原创 faculty, staff,听students,听and the local community. 鈥淵ou can choose excellence.鈥�听
After the NFL, driven by health challenges for his daughter,听Mughelli听moved into a career in environmental sustainability, hoping to make a difference for his family and others.听
鈥淲hether people remember your name or not, that doesn鈥檛 change what you accomplish,鈥� Mughelli said. 鈥淎s a fullback in the NFL, I was always in the background, working to help my teammates be successful. Every step you take will matter; it will make a difference. Step into the fullness of your destiny.鈥�听听
About 杏吧原创听
杏吧原创 is a private baccalaureate and master鈥檚 degree-granting institution听located听in the beautiful mountains of Northeast Georgia. Founded in 1886 and historically affiliated with The United Methodist Church, 杏吧原创 educates, inspires, and empowers students through an education that purposefully integrates the liberal arts and professional studies. The College offers 34 majors and 23 minors, ranging from biology or outdoor studies to business administration or sport and kinesiology. Approximately 1,400 students are enrolled in听its听undergraduate, dual enrollment, and graduate programs. The College is an active member of the NCAA Division II and听remains听a fierce competitor in the Conference Carolinas. For more information, visit yhc.edu.听
