By Steve Esser
YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. — In the spirit of unity often preached by the late Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., students, faculty, and staff gathered with the local community on Jan. 16 for YHC’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. prayer luncheon.
“I want to thank everyone for being here to celebrate the life of Martin Luther King Jr.,” said Dr. John Wells, YHC President, as he opened the annual luncheon in Suber Hall of YHC’s Rollins Campus Center. “In today’s talk of division and hatred, King’s message of unity is more important than ever and something we lean into here Young Harris College.”
The annual luncheon, in addition to focusing on the legacy of MLK, also raises money for the College’s annual Civil Rights trip through the Southeast. Led by YHC’s Dr. Rev. Adam Daniels, the trip takes YHC students to Selma, AL, and Atlanta, GA, stopping at historic sites like the Legacy Museum in Montgomery, AL, and the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta.
“It’s something where we all are profoundly impacted,” Daniels said. “Martin Luther King was not just a preacher, but a prophet. His message of unity is as necessary today as it was all those years ago.”
Ovie Mughelli, a former NFL player, was this year’s keynote speaker, bringing a message of hope and passion for the audience. Mughellli was drafted out of Wake Forest by the Baltimore Ravens in 2003. He also played with the Atlanta Falcons and (then) St. Louis Rams before retiring from football in 2012.
“Martin Luther King Jr. was such an amazing force for our country and our history, and for our future,” said Mughelli, who turned his NFL career into a passion for environmental sustainability. The two-time All-Pro NFL veteran leveraged his platform as an NFL professional to become an environmental sustainability leader, wellness advocate, author, media correspondent, and owner of a medical consulting business.
“Martin Luther King’s legacy of hope, change, and justice is something that resonates with us all,” Mughelli said. “I came here today to speak about him, but I also want you to remember why I’m here and what I said. What we say matters.”
The son of Nigerian parents who immigrated to the United States, Mughelli credited them with his work ethic. “They did everything they could to give me a better life,” he said. “And I learned from them, much like Martin Luther King, that our steps matter as we all work to be best versions of ourselves.”
Mughelli references his career in the NFL as he spoke, talking about his second year, when an injury threatened to derail his 10-year career before it even started.
“Excellence is a choice. You can choose to hold yourself to a standard as Martin Luther King did,” he said to the crowd mixed with YHC faculty, staff, students, and the local community. “You can choose excellence.”
After the NFL, driven by health challenges for his daughter, Mughelli moved into a career in environmental sustainability, hoping to make a difference for his family and others.
“Whether people remember your name or not, that doesn’t change what you accomplish,” Mughelli said. “As a fullback in the NFL, I was always in the background, working to help my teammates be successful. Every step you take will matter; it will make a difference. Step into the fullness of your destiny.”
About Young Harris College
Young Harris College is a private baccalaureate and master’s degree-granting institution located in the beautiful mountains of Northeast Georgia. Founded in 1886 and historically affiliated with The United Methodist Church, Young Harris College educates, inspires, and empowers students through an education that purposefully integrates the liberal arts and professional studies. The College offers 34 majors and 23 minors, ranging from biology or outdoor studies to business administration or sport and kinesiology. Approximately 1,400 students are enrolled in its undergraduate, dual enrollment, and graduate programs. The College is an active member of the NCAA Division II and remains a fierce competitor in the Conference Carolinas. For more information, visit yhc.edu.
