The 36th annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Committee has announced the 2021 Unsung Hero Award winners.

The Unsung Hero awards are given to community members, students, faculty and staff who have made positive impacts on the lives of others but are not widely recognized for their contributions. The awards were created to honor Dr. King’s vision of creating positive change in a troubled world.

The award winners will be recognized at the 36th annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration. The event will be held online on Sunday, Jan. 31, at 7 p.m. featuring keynote speaker Ruby Bridges. Registration for the celebration is open to all and available on the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration website.

Among the 2021 Unsung Hero Award winners is Sameeha Saied ‘21, a senior majoring in psychology and a music history and cultures minor in the College of Arts and Sciences, an engaged member of the Syracuse community, both on and off campus. She has deeply impacted and inspired those around her through her involvement in various organizations on campus.

Saied has made a lasting impact through her work with organizations including Student Association, OttoTHON, Literary Corps and OrangeSeeds. Additionally, she has served as an orientation leader and SEM 100 peer facilitator. Through these roles, she has acted as a mentor and leader to new students transitioning to life at Syracuse University. Driven by the desire to make all students feel included and welcome, she advocated to expand SEM 100 into a full academic course, which the University is now planning to do.

Read the full Syracuse University News article about the 2021 Unsung Hero Award winners HERE:

Congratulations, Sameeha!