HAMMOND and WESTVILLE – Purdue University Northwest (PNW) will host East Chicago native and U.S. District Court Judge Gonzalo P. Curiel at two Martin Luther King Jr. programs in January. Curiel’s address will honor Dr. King’s legacy and vision and reflect the programs’ theme, “Together we win with love for humanity.”

The coordinating events will take place on Monday, Jan. 15 and Tuesday, Jan. 16 at the Westville and Hammond campuses, respectively.

Prominent federal judge speaks to region
Hon. Gonzalo P. Curiel, judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of California, will deliver a keynote speech at both programs. Curiel received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Indiana University and his Juris Doctor from the Indiana University School of Law. He acted as Assistant United States Attorney and served as Deputy Chief and then Chief of the Narcotics Enforcement Division before being appointed to the State Superior Court in 2006. With President Barack Obama's nomination in 2011, Curiel was approved by the U.S. Senate and received his commission as a United States District Judge on October 1, 2012.

Celebration breakfast – Jan. 15
PNW will host the 23^rd annual Martin Luther King Jr. Community Celebration Breakfast from 8:30 – 10 a.m., Monday, Jan. 15. The program will take place in the James B. Dworkin Student Services and Activities Complex (DSAC), Great Hall, on the Westville Campus. The complex is located at 1401 South U.S. 421. The doors open at 8:00 a.m.

Celebration with reception – Jan. 16
A program honoring Dr. King will be held from 10:30 a.m. – noon, Tuesday, Jan. 16 in the Student Union and Library, Alumni Hall, at the Hammond Campus, 2233 173^rd Street. The doors open at 10 a.m. A reception will be held following Judge Curiel’s speech.

“Each year we look forward to these commemorative events that connect PNW with the community and contribute to fulfilling Dr. King’s vision,” said Laura Odom, associate director of the office of equity, diversity and inclusion and committee co-chair.

The events are free and open to the public. Reservations are required and may be reserved at www.pnw.edu/MLK-celebration no later than Monday, Jan. 8.

Michigan City Police Officer Dion Campbell will serve as emcee and musical entertainment will be provided by PNW student Casey “C.J. Musique” Baker and guitarist Angelo Cicco. Campus art tours will be led by Judy Jacobi, assistant vice chancellor of University Arts Collection and Special Programs.

The Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. invites guests to bring new or gently used hats, gloves, socks, scarves, coats, sweaters and other seasonal wraps for donation to local families in need.

Event sponsors
The sponsors for the events include: Purdue University Northwest; Purdue University Northwest Multicultural Campus Council; NIPSCO; Horizon Bank; La Porte Herald Argus; The News Dispatch; La Porte County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Alevizos; Sinai Temple; Visit Michigan City La Porte Convention and Visitors Bureau; Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.; 1^st Source Bank; Unity Foundation; Sondra Craig; Jontrese Craig and Angela Thomas.

For further information
To obtain more information about these activities visit www.pnw.edu/MLK-celebration or call (219) 785-5545. To request a disability related accommodation for these events, please contact the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at Hammond (219) 989-2163 or Westville (219) 785-5545 or edi@pnw.edu.