In an ebullient morning ceremony held Jan. 21 at the Tivoli Turnhalle, three honorees received Metro's annual Martin Luther King Peace Awards.

Bestowed on individuals who demonstrate a commitment to peace, community activism and justice, the awards have been a Metro tradition for 14 years. Each year, the MLK awards committee selects one winner each from among Metro's faculty and staff, Metro's student body and the community at large.

Jacquelyn Benton, a visiting instructor of African American Studies, received the faculty award. Instrumental in developing the department's internship program with organizations such as the Blair-Caldwell African American Research Library, the Urban League and the African American Leadership Institute, Benton also established the Johnson Legacy Lecture Series at the Park Hill United Methodist Church in honor of her mother. The annual lectureship, a collaborative effort between the Park Hill church and Metro's African American Studies Department, is designed to educate the community about the African diaspora.

President of Metro's Black Student Alliance, James "Justice" Jackson, received the student award. Jackson, who is majoring in African American studies and psychology, has worked as a campus DJ, using this forum to support local events and programs related to diversity. He currently serves as general manager for Met Radio and tutors students at Denver's Gove Middle School.

Nita Gonzales, president and chief executive officer of Escuela Tlatelolco Centro de Estudios, received the community award. Escuela Tlateloco is a 33-year-old Chicano/Mexicano private school founded by Gonzales' father, Rodolfo "Corky" Gonzales, a Chicano activist and previous Peace-Award winner. Gonzales, who has worked to span the differences dividing many communities, has been involved with the Denver Housing Authority, the Women's Foundation of Colorado, the Alliance for Choice in Education, the All Nations Alliance and the Red Earth Women's Alliance. She is the founder of the Latino Education Coalition, the founder and past chair of the Denver Youth Employment and Education Task Force, a former board member of the Colorado AIDS Project, and has served as an adjunct faculty member at Metro.

Yolanda Ortega-Ericksen, interim associate vice president for Student Services, served as the master of ceremonies for the breakfast, which also featured a performance by the Majestic Praise Choir of New Hope Baptist Church; a keynote address by Brother Jeff, a Denver-based writer and activist; and elementary-school students from the Institute of Global Scholarship reading from their essays about Martin Luther King.