N.H. “Cookie” Scott, Longwood University's first African-American graduate, will be the speaker for the university's primary event commemorating the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

In the Martin Luther King Jr. Symposium, to be held Thursday, Jan. 19, at 3:30 p.m. in Jarman Auditorium, Scott will examine her journey from Longwood to her current position as deputy director of administration for the Virginia Department of Corrections (DOC). Scott graduated in 1972 with a B.A. in sociology. She was Longwood's convocation speaker in 2005.

Also as part of Longwood's observance of Dr. King's birthday, volunteers will take turns reading excerpts from a speech by the civil rights leader Wednesday, Jan. 18, at noon on the steps in front of Lankford Hall. The excerpts will be from the “Remaining Awake Through a Great Revolution” speech that Dr. King gave at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., on March 31, 1968, four days before he was assassinated. Following the reading, a pictorial display of various movements (including civil rights, disability rights, and women's rights) will be located on Brock Commons for viewing and reflection.

Also on Jan. 18, two documentaries about Dr. King will be shown in Wygal Auditorium: “Citizen King” at 6:30 p.m. and “In Remembrance of Martin” at 8 p.m. Another film, “X-Men: The Final Stand,” will be shown Jan. 19 at 8 p.m. in Wygal Auditorium, followed by a discussion of the social justice aspects of this hit film.

Additionally, members of the Longwood community will participate in the MLK Service Challenge on Monday, Jan. 16, in which they will perform community service projects around Farmville. In last year's MLK Service Challenge, some 56 participants completed projects at eight sites.

Cookie Scott has worked since 1973 for the DOC, the largest State agency, and became its first female deputy director in 2002. She began her career as a probation officer in the 16th District Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court in Charlottesville, her hometown. She rose to become director of Court Services for the 16th District before being promoted to Human Resources manager in 1988 and transferring to DOC headquarters in Richmond, where she has worked ever since.

An information and curriculum support site about the 2012 MLK Day program, created by the Greenwood Library staff, is available at http://libguides.longwood.edu/mlk.