BY CHERILYN PURSEL, Staff Reporter

With Martin Luther King Jr. Day just around the corner, Ellensburg community members and CWU students joined together Thursday night to pay tribute to the hero who had a dream.

The celebration occurred in the Student Union Recreation Center Theatre and began with singing of the Black National Anthem by Tyler Beauchamp, and a rendition by the Ellensburg Women’s Chorus.

The opening address was provided by Larry Lowther, followed by an emotional spoken word poem by a member of the Black Student Union.

The highlight of the evening was the keynote address by Ester Huey. Her speech moved the entire audience, and her message was clear.

“The dreamer was killed, but the dream wasn’t. We must carry on the work that he started,” Huey said.

Maribel Castellanos, a Students for the Dream member, thought the musical ensembles were the best part of the event.

“The singing was the best part of the event, because I think singing brings people together and there’s nothing that makes a ceremony more complete then having people bond over music,” Castellanos said.

At the end of the ceremony, the Ellensburg Women’s Chorus concluded with a lovely rendition of the classic “We Shall Overcome.”

The entire audience joined hand-in-hand and sang along.

Students of the Dream member Ariella Stanback has attended the tribute every year, and each event is more inspiring then the next.

“The event flowed great, and each message went together and delivered the same strong message that needed to be delivered,” Stanback said.