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Tabor Honors Martin Luther King Jr.

Awardees of the Belonging & Change Awards 2025
Tabor Honors Martin Luther King Jr.

On Monday, January 20, 2025, the Tabor community came together to honor the memory and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. At the heart of this year’s programming was the Belonging & Change Awards, a celebration of alumni and community members who embody the values of belonging, equity, and transformative change.

Under the leadership of RoseMarie Wallace, Director of Diversity, Equity, and Belonging, students and faculty engaged in a series of events that first included participating in a belonging survey administered by the firm, Qualtrics. This survey is an important step in cultivating a globally minded community, as outlined in Tabor's Strategic Plan.

After the survey, advisors and students headed to Wickenden Chapel where they experienced a moving and meaningful service in honor of Dr. King. There, Head of School Tony Jaccaci welcomed everyone and spoke of the importance of coming together as a community on this day of remembrance. This year, the Madrigals performance of “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” was accompanied by the American Sign Language TaborX program. Wallace then delivered remarks that poetically tied the ocean to the concept of belonging and identity.

I remind you of a quote from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: "Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” Remember that the ocean cannot hold itself. It needs the shore, the moon, the wind, the rain, and space to spill out. We need each other and together we will stand taller than our fears.RoseMarie Wallace

It was a powerful and beautiful analogy that was appropriately delivered to the student body at the School by the Sea. Wallace then introduced two speakers from the Tabor community: Bonnie Duncan Punsky ’04, Director of Donor Relations, and Warley Williams, a member of Tabor’s Campus Security and the Principal of Greater New Bedford Vocational Technical School.

Punsky, a Marion native with strong ties to the community and Tabor, acknowledged that belonging came naturally to her as a student here—unlike some of her classmates. Now, a proud member of the Advancement team at Tabor, Punsky emphasizes that creating an inclusive environment is a shared responsibility. “As we commemorate (Dr. King’s) legacy today, let us honor him by continuing to work towards an environment of inclusion and collaboration. In doing so, we not only pay tribute to our past but also build a future where the bonds of family, friends, and community continue to inspire and strengthen us all when we leave and when we come back home.”

As the Principal of Greater New Bedford Vocational Technical School, Williams noted that this was a community he is proud to serve. He chuckled when he told students he was likely unrecognizable “out of uniform,” which he wears on Sundays when he takes the Campus Security shift at Tabor to pay down his student loans. Williams went on to describe the personal impact that Dr. King had on his life and spoke to his own challenges with belonging as someone who identifies as a black male. Like Punsky, Williams remarked on the shared ownership of creating an inclusive community: “True belonging cannot be forced through laws. It must come from a deep and genuine connection that everyone plays a part in building. It happens when we see our fellow brothers and sisters not as strangers but as individuals from whom we can learn, grow, love, and enrich the world together—a world filled with a cornucopia of culture.”

Williams introduced keynote speaker, Christian Garris ’05, a fellow collaborator and New Bedford resident, as the 2025 Trailblazer Award recipient. The Trailblazer Award honors graduates who embody Tabor’s mission to educate and empower students to connect, serve, and lead.

Garris, who is now Head of Nativity Preparatory School New Bedford shared anecdotes about his Tabor experience and mentioned current faculty member Gerry Dineen in his remarks. Garris called upon a time when Dineen broke into an original jingle with his acoustic guitar to help him understand algebraic equations. Dedicated faculty members, like Dineen, who consistently went above and beyond—made him feel as though he truly belonged at Tabor. Garris was delighted when Dineen and Julia Peterson ’18 followed up with an ethereal rendition of U2’s Pride, a tribute to Martin Luther King Jr.

Following Garris’ address, the program moved to the presentation of the Belonging & Change Awards, which honored—among Garris—five members of alumni and the broader Tabor community. This year’s awards celebrated innovators, advocates, and changemakers who exemplify the values of belonging, equity, and transformative change.

Anika Walker-Johnson, former faculty member, received the Tabor Impact Award which celebrates members of the Tabor community whose contributions extend beyond campus, reflecting Tabor's mission to connect, serve, and lead in transformative ways. Honorees exemplify Tabor’s values of care, collaboration, courage, and curiosity, using their talents to make a meaningful impact in their communities and beyond.

Anaelle N. Ndoye ’17 received the Global Citizenship Award inspired by Tabor’s identity as the School by the Sea. The Global Citizenship Award celebrates members of the Tabor community who embody Tabor's vision of a globally connected education. Awardees are leaders in exploring innovative, ethical solutions to global challenges, fostering understanding across cultures, and exemplifying Tabor’s commitment to a purposeful, principle-driven life.

Araion D. Bradshaw ’16 received the Legacy Shaper Award, which recognizes members of the Tabor community who have profoundly influenced the Tabor community, leaving a lasting impact on the institution and future generations. Through their dedication, vision, and commitment to Tabor's values, these individuals shape a legacy of excellence, service, and inspiration for all who follow.

Mr. Stephen Downes was awarded the Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian Excellence Award, which honors alumni and Tabor community members who embody the humanitarian ideals of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Tabor’s commitment to equity and inclusion. Recipients are recognized for their dedication to social justice, community building, and empathy, inspiring others to create a more equitable and compassionate world.

After chapel, a luncheon was held for the five honorees and their guests.

Students wrapped up their day with a viewing of “Sweet Freedom,” a short film about a New Bedford confectioner, Polly Johnson, who ran a station on the Underground Railroad. The screening concluded with a Q&A session with Director Alyssa Botelho.