Three AACC officials received awards at the 39th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Breakfast this week.

The breakfast, held on Jan. 20, centered around King’s quote that “The time is always right to do what is right”, and honored community leaders across Anne Arundel County.

AACC’s Professor Heather Rellihan, professor Melissa Spurlock and coordinator Carolyn Patton all received the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Zeitgeist award.

Associate Judge Elizabeth S. Morris was the keynote speaker for the event, ending the morning with a speech center on King’s quote in which she highlighted times in her life in which she felt it applied.

As Morris said in an interview with Campus Current prior to the event, her speech centered on King’s quote and highlighted times in her life in which she felt it applied.

Morris recalled stories from her childhood and adulthood, including one in which she said she confronted a friend in high school after their parents continually used a racial slur in front of her, derogatorily referring to other African Americans.

Morris said she told her they could not remain friends, due to the parent’s behavior.

Morris also recalled a moment at college in which she invited two white friends to a gathering of mostly black students, at which the pair said they felt ostracized as minorities at the party.

Morris said she berated the pair, telling them she and other black students typically felt this way at the predominately white institution.

Morris said these moments came to mind upon hearing that King’s quote would be the breakfast’s theme.

Prior to Morris’ speech professor Doug Byerly led the AACC Chamber Choir as they performed songs throughout the event, culminating in “We Shall Overcome”.

AACC students said they feel King’s impact in their lives.

First-year engineering transfer studies student Drew Rice said King’s leadership impacted many people.

“I think he’s very impactful as a symbol for equal rights,” Rice said. “He was an excellent leader, he pushed for freedoms and equal rights.”

First-year student Kyle Perry said he found King’s approach to mending race relations impactful.

“I think he was a really powerful figure and I definitely hold him in pretty high regards because he sacrificed his life for the cause of freedom,” Perry said. “That’s really amazing to me.”

Live! Casino and Hotel hosted the event which went from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.