Left to right: Thayne Thomas ’29, Julian Lombisano ’29, Jake DeBroux ’29, Reggie Fear ’29 and Drew Campbell ’28 carry a banner down the streets of downtown St. Petersburg. Photos by Amanda Green ’16
The teal banner carried by the Eckerd College men’s golf team highlighted a statement made in the 1960s by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: “Hatred darkens life; love illuminates it.”
More than 80 Eckerd marchers—including President Jim Annarelli, Ph.D.; his wife, Anna; and Vice President for Inclusive Excellence Beverly Warren, Ed.D.—trailed behind the prescient quote at St. Petersburg’s annual Martin Luther King Dream Big Parade on Jan. 20. Since 2002, the College has joined hundreds of businesses and community organizations in support of one of the nation’s oldest processions in honor of the “drum major for justice.”
“As a part of the larger St. Petersburg community, it is important for the College to join in the City’s celebration of the life and work of the Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King Jr., whose vision of equality, justice and peace continues to inspire us to this day,” says President Annarelli.
The retinue of student-athletes, coaches, cultural-club members and officers of the Eckerd College Organization of Students handed paper-wrapped candies and cloth friendship bracelets to children bouncing up and down for attention along First Avenue South. The almost two-mile parade route from Al Lang Stadium to Tropicana Field brings the city together each year to hear marching bands, see dancing teams and festive floats, and celebrate the life of King.
Junior men’s tennis player Adrian Gheorghe hands out candy.
Men’s soccer players Brandon Wheeler ’27 and Blaine Sutton ’27 hand out treats, so less litter is left on the street.
Eckerd’s parade committee intentionally honored the civil rights titan by using a quote from his collection of well-known homilies, Strength to Love, published in 1963. “I think it speaks to the moment we’re in,” says Ann Sherman-White ’06, the College’s coordinator of inclusive student engagement.
Aside from on the banner, the quote was emblazoned on a T-shirt designed by the College’s creative director, Dawn Régan Ellenburg ’86. A few days before MLK Day, Assistant Director of Campus Activities Maddy Morgen ’21 had hosted two tie-dyeing parties on campus to give students and staff a chance to personalize their shirts.
Aja Jones, ECOS president and a senior animal studies and marketing student from Jacksonville, Florida, was all smiles in the parade as she encouraged her fellow students through the frigid temperatures while hauling a rolling speaker. She hyped up her fellow marchers and the crowd by sharing some of Eckerd’s effervescence.
Following the event, Athletic Director Tom Ryan ’87 set up a fellowship lunch for all marchers that encouraged them to reflect on their experiences and grow excitement for the year ahead. Teams in beach volleyball and men’s and women’s soccer, basketball, tennis and golf all were excited to represent the College in a different capacity.
“Participating in events like these really strengthens the connection between Eckerd College, our student-athletes and the larger St. Petersburg community,” Ryan explains. “It’s an opportunity for the student-athletes to represent their school in an impactful way beyond the field.”
