Freedom fighters: Dr. King and Mrs. Cherry

In what school Superintendent Dr. James Hunderfund described as a “long-standing tradition of excellence,” the Malverne school district will celebrate its 25th annual Martin Luther King Jr. celebration on Jan. 14 at the Howard T. Herber Middle School.

“We carry this tradition forward, celebrating all of the accomplishments and certainly the heritage presented through the Martin Luther King holiday … and Martin Luther King Jr.’s life,” Hunderfund said. “We feel that many of the principles that are recognized in Martin Luther King’s stand for equity and equality are principles and values that we want children to learn. So in that vein, we continue that tradition and we really feel strongly that in our character education program, that the values that are represented are key values in terms of integrity and character and equality.”

The celebration, which begins at 7 p.m., will consist of performances by some 300 students from all four district schools and a Lakeview Girl Scout troop, according to HTH Principal Steven Gilhuley. The district will also present its annual Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian Award to the family of Elizabeth Carol Cherry, the district’s first African-American student who graduated in 1968 and returned to teach in the district for 31 years. Cherry died in March, but her family will be accepting the award on her behalf.

“I really did not work with her, but I knew her, having met her on difference occasions and she just seemed like a truly warm and inspirational person and teacher, so we honor her this year,” Hunderfund said. “It’s a nice night. It celebrates the true tradition and values that are represented through the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.”

Cherry’s last class of students — now in the fifth grade — will present the award.

The NAACP Lakeview branch is supporting the school’s celebration, according to President Bea Bayley. “Carol Cherry was an excellent and involved freedom fighter,” she said.