Ford School undergraduates Julia Odhiambo (BA ‘26) and Christian Loredo-Duran (BA ‘25) were honored with the 20th annual Central Campus Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Spirit Awards on January 25. The ceremony recognized the various ways undergraduate students, graduate students, and student groups exemplify Dr. King's leadership and extraordinary vision. Students are nominated by U-M Ann Arbor faculty, staff, and other students.
As the founder and president of the Black Undergraduate Public Policy Society, and vice president of the Student Advisory Board, Odhiambo works to promote policies to make campus more inclusive.
“Winning the MLK Spirit Award is both a privilege and an honor. Dr. King’s legacy of justice and equity has deeply shaped my passion for advocacy, especially in environmental justice. ‘Restless Dissatisfaction’ fuels my commitment to challenging these injustices, amplifying marginalized voices, and pushing for policies that create truly inclusive, sustainable communities for all,” Odhiambo said.
Loredo-Duran is the former president of Mi Casa Es Tu Casa, a U-M organization that supports historically disadvantaged students by providing access to resources that break down language, cultural, and socio-economic barriers so that they can further their education.
“Receiving the MLK Spirit Award is a testament to the power of unity. My dedication to immigration policy reform is in honor of our immigrant communities who have restlessly fought without looking back. My history and community motivate me to continue cultivating spaces we can all call home,” Loredo-Duran said.
The award ceremony highlighted the various ways in which students have worked to carry on the spirit of Dr. King. The nominees shared their experiences and highlighted the importance of student activism in creating social change.
The award is co-sponsored by the University of Michigan Schools of Education, Dentistry, Nursing, Information, Kinesiology, Pharmacy, Public Policy, Public Health, Business, and Social Work (Community Action and Social Change Undergraduate Minor), as well as the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA) and the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.