University of Kentucky staff and students gathered for the Martin Luther King Center’s cookout at Stoll Field on Friday, Sept. 5, as a showcase of community.
The cookout was held from 12-2 p.m. Students were invited to celebrate the start of the semester and socialize with each other. Several tables were set up where UK organizations showcased how students could get involved.
Stations offered food and drinks for students, as well as an area where attendees could relax and socialize while eating.
The cookout was organized by MLK staff, who supplied all the food and tables for the occasion, alongside a DJ.
Whitney Rogers, who attended the event as a representative of the counseling center, said she was interested in reaching out and connecting with students.
“This is just a good opportunity to get resources out to students that are attending, and I think it’s a fun way to get people together,” Rogers said.
The cookout hosted by the MLK Center is just one of many opportunities to get students involved, according to Rogers.
“We are trying to do as much outreach as possible, through tabling, that kind of thing, and I think we are even in UK 101 providing information,” Rogers said.
Saana Mugabo, the signature programming intern, said she oversaw the event to ensure it ran smoothly and that the students all enjoyed themselves.
Mugabo said the event was about community and furthering her organization’s goal, which is helping people find support.
“If you want to build a community, you just have to put the effort in,” Mugabo said. “People yearn for a community, especially if you’re away from home.”
Oryia Ogden, senior business management major, said the Center is great at making students feel like they have a place to belong at UK.
“I come in there to have good vibes,” Ogden said. “I feel like I’m part of a family where I can socialize and have downtime.”
Ma’Hali Brown, president of the ConnectFirst mentoring program, said she was excited to go to the cookout as it helped grow student organizations.
“We get to expose our organization to different students, but we also are open to anyone just to find community within the college or on campus in general,” Brown said.
Brown said the MLK Center plays a role in getting students involved through helping students connect with opportunities across campus.
“The way they (the MLK Center) implement things for other organizations to show themselves is why the MLK Center is the grounding base for everything,” Brown said.
