2026 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Celebration

Aiken Technical College and the University of South Carolina Aiken will have their annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Celebration on Sunday, January 25, 2026, at the USCA Convocation Center. Doors will open at 2:30 p.m. for a service fair, followed by the program starting at 3 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

The keynote speaker for the event is Cecil J. Williams, a renowned photographer known for his visual documentation of the Civil Rights Movement. Williams has dedicated his career to preserving the stories of the Civil Rights Movement and those who have fought for justice and equality. His photography has been featured in major national publications and is included in the Smithsonian’s collection.

He also founded the South Carolina Civil Rights Museum in Orangeburg to educate and inspire future generations through the lessons of the movement.

The annual community celebration will also recognize those who lead through service in the Aiken County community and on the campuses of Aiken Tech and USCA. Winners of the K-12 poster and essay contests will also be recognized.