Schuette, Wuerffel, Singh named MLK Award recipients

Allison Schuette, Liz Wuerffel, and Moninder “Holly” Singh have been selected as the 2013 Martin Luther King Jr. Award recipients.

The three were honored at Valparaiso University’s 24th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration on Monday, Jan. 21, at the Chapel of the Resurrection. As part of Valparaiso University’s annual celebration of the life and work of Martin Luther King Jr., each year the MLK Award is presented to persons or organizations making significant and lasting contributions to continue to create an environment where diversity is honored and respected within the campus community.

“Allison, Liz, and Holly embody the spirit of Dr. King in their ongoing service to the University community,” Valparaiso University President Mark Heckler said. “They have made lasting contributions by creating opportunities for open dialogue and by fostering an inclusive environment.”

Schuette, associate professor of English, and Wuerffel, adjunct professor of art, are co-directors of the Welcome Project. The Welcome Project provides ongoing opportunities for students, staff, faculty, and community members to tell their stories through audio and video, shedding light on the complex state of relationships on campus and in the surrounding community while helping others discover commonalities.

Schuette, a 1993 Valparaiso University graduate who received a Master of Fine Arts from Penn State in 2005, has taught at Valpo since 2005. Wuerffel, a 2000 Valparaiso University graduate who received a Master of Fine Arts from Columbia College in 2006, has taught at Valpo since 2006.

Singh has been a staff member at Valparaiso University since 1997. In 2008, he was named director of international students and scholars, serving students who come to Valpo from around the world, while coordinating cross-cultural programming. He also serves as an advisor for the Valparaiso International Student Association. Singh was influential in the establishment of the Summer Global Leadership Institute at Valpo, a three-week program for prospective international high school students that immerses participants in the American higher education system and the overall university culture.

Singh came to Valpo from New Delhi, India, graduating in 1998 with a Bachelor of Science and in 2005 with a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies.

The theme for the upcoming MLK Celebration is “Building Bridges: Dream. Dialogue. Service” to evaluate work that serves, communicates, or connects with Dr. King’s mission. Eboo Patel, founder and president of Interfaith Youth Core, will be the featured speaker for the celebration.