Through the efforts of a Lee High School senior, the legacy and lessons of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., were on display Tuesday throughout the school’s courtyard.

Katie Shuler, 17, is a member of Lee’s chapter of the Rho Kappa National Social Studies Honor Society, a national honor society for juniors and seniors recognized for their excellence.

As a Rho Kappa project, club members honor various national holidays and celebrations to educate students about historical events to become better in the future. Shuler oversaw the MLK Day project, which featured posters and chalk art of King’s quotes.

Shuler said she wanted to show King as a whole person. She learned that King’s father was also a pastor, and he continued his family legacy.

“I hope that they see the work he did over 50 years ago is still relevant today,” she said. “I was reminded of how much opposition he faced.”

Through the project, Shuler learned the importance of fighting for what you believe in.

“No matter what it is, I think it’s important to fight for what matters to us,” she said.

Sign Up for Newsletters
Select Newsletters to Sign Up For

Louis Stephens, sociology and Advanced Placement Government teacher and Rho Kappa sponsor, said the club chose events to bring awareness to historical issues.

Rho Kappa’s project subjects include Constitution Day, 9/11, Hispanic Heritage Month, Pearl Harbor Day, Human Rights Day, Asian Pacific American Heritage Month and Women’s History Month.

The next project for the club will be over Black History Month in February.

“We make sure that kids hear something about it,” Stephens said. “All I do is offer suggestions when needed.”

Lee’s chapter of Rho Kappa began in 2017, and Stephens said they’re finding their niche.

As an honor society, he said club members perform acts of community service both at the school and downtown Tyler. There are plans to put together information on March 3 primary election for voters to know about candidates.

Multimedia Journalist

I came to the Tyler Morning Telegraph in September 2019. I report on crime, courts, breaking news and various events in Tyler and East Texas.

Recent Stories You Might Have Missed