Missouri Western State University will be presenting awards next month to recognize people in the community who are committed to social justice and multicultural education service.

The Center for Multicultural Education at Missouri Western is accepting nominations for the 2018 Drum Major for Justice Awards.

The awards are presented at the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Drum Major for Justice Banquet on January 17, 2018.

Missouri Western Multicultural Education Director Latoya Fitzpatrick said the Drum Major for Justice Awards are given out to citizens who live ordinary lives but do extraordinary acts of service.

“Sometimes the work can get very very weary… so just giving folks that are within the fight and are trying to make things better, just a little encouragement to keep continuing on with the fight in hopes that at the end of it, yes, we all want to see equality, but I just know that a lot of times in this work, people get weary and want to give up,” Fitzpatrick said. “So we’re going to recognize you here and we’re going to give you that extra boost to make sure that you continue to fight and that you know you have the support of your community.”

The award is presented to one student, one member of the St. Joseph community and a Missouri Western employee.

Nominations can be submitted online. The nomination deadline is January 10th.