MLK Humanitarian Awards Honor Senior, Director of Campus Activities
(LEBANON, Ill., Feb. 7, 2025) – Senior Zariah Valentine and Director of Campus Activities
Craig Robertson were honored with McKendree University’s 2025 Martin Luther King,
Jr. Humanitarian Award at a celebration held on Thursday, Feb. 6 at the Hettenhausen
Center for the Arts. The annual award celebrates the legacy of the Reverend Dr. King.
This year’s recipients have demonstrated care and compassion, understanding and tolerance
for all people, and humanitarian principles and ideals. They have also led or participated
in service programs that reflect these ideas.
Zariah Valentine, a senior from Monroe, La., is majoring in sociology with an emphasis on criminal justice. She is the president of the university’s Black Student Organization (BSO) and is also the captain of the women’s equipped powerlifting team on campus. She volunteers with multiple organizations to help in the community both at McKendree and in her hometown. She recently volunteered at a church to build children’s beds for Christmas. Upon graduation, she has plans to start a non-profit organization that helps children in need in her community.
“I am truly humbled and honored to receive this incredible award,” Zariah said upon
receiving the award. “This award will be a reminder that you can do anything you can
set your mind to. Thank you to my team, family, friends and mentors for believing
in me.”
A native of Carlyle, Ill., and resident of Fairview Heights, Ill., Craig Robertson started at McKendree as a resident director of Baker Hall, football coach, and intramural coordinator in 1996. He has served as the university’s director of campus activities and New Student Orientation leader since 2002. Craig supervises over 30 student-workers and is intentional in shaping them to becoming student leaders. Craig also serves his community as a volunteer coach for boys’ and girls’ baseball teams in O’Fallon, volunteers at the soup kitchen in Granite City, and more.
Upon receiving the award, Craig urged the students in attendance to use their voices.
“You’ll be a part of something bigger than yourself after you graduate, so it’s so important that you’re able to use your voice to help yourselves move forward in life,” he said.
After the recipients received their awards, the Reverend Dr. Candace Lewis, the event’s guest speaker, spoke of King’s legacy and how the world needs more humanitarians.
“When we see humanity in a crisis, it’s never an easy decision to choose the action we will take,” Rev. Lewis said. “Let’s all tap in to do what we can to make the world a better place for us all.”
-McK-
