BY BRANDY TEMPLETON

A large crowd came out to celebrate the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. at the Career Academy & Technical School in Troutman on Friday morning.

Principal Larry Rogers welcomed guests to the event, which featured breakfast, guest speakers, and music by Nickey Mott.

Among the speakers were Troutman Town Manger Ron Wyatt, Mayor Teross Young Jr., Athletics Coordinator Shawn McCoy, and Council member Felina Harris.

The theme was helping others, and Wyatt said the goal was to have a day “on” instead of a day off.

“Give something back to your neighbor, your community, your family, and yourself,” the town manager said.

McCoy spoke on the importance of empowering others to be active servants.

“Serving others opens doors for others,” he said. “MLK said, ‘What affects one indirectly affects us all.’”

McCoy also told everyone to bring “a low ego,” saying that egos have started wars.

“It screams that it’s about me, but your way is not the only way to success,” he explained.

Harris shared her story of growing up in Troutman in a family that had financial struggles.

However, she worked to rise above those challenges, obtained an education, and accomplished all the goals she set for herself as a child.

Now, Harris said, she lives every day trying to be better.

“MLK said that not everyone can be famous, but everyone can be great,” Harris shared. “He said that the ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in convenience and comfort but where he stands in times of challenge and controversy.”

Mayor Young closed the event by sharing about his life growing up in Troutman. He talked about his parents helping neighbors by sharing food, checking on them, and giving strangers rides.

A first generation college student, Young encouraged everyone to help others even if they look different.

“Troutman is a tapestry of diverse backgrounds,” Young said. “MLK said, ‘Judge not by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”