On Wednesday, Jan. 15, 20 students under the direction of interim Inspirational Chorale conductor Lauren N. Clare and Department of Theatre professor Jason Burrow on piano opened the day at the Walmart Home Office in Bentonville in celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King. There was also a warm welcome with Moses Hogan's Elijah Rock.

Many of Walmart's executives were in attendance, including Cedric Clark, EVP of store operations; Donna Morris, EVP and Chief People Officer; and CEO Doug McMillon, who gave opening remarks.

"As visitors in the home office," Clare said, "we found it incredibly moving to hear stories of how King impacted the lives of executives of all different backgrounds and the importance they placed on implementing his values. A panel of executives provided a Q&A session that proved moving and thought-provoking. The big takeaway: it is important that people feel seen, no matter who they are or what they do, that they feel acknowledged and seen."

Also present were students from area middle schools who had won the Martin Luther King Jr. Essay Contest for their district. Among them, a student who collected over 30,000 cereal boxes to donate to organizations fighting food insecurity in the region. Her efforts, at such a young age, received thunderous applause from everyone in the room.

The Inspirational Chorale then provided a wonderful performance of Roland Carter's arrangement of "Lift Every Voice and Sing" to which the audience stood in respectful silence.

Closing remarks were given by Senior Vice President Ralph Clare, and the Inspirational Chorale concluded the event with a resounding rendition of "Glory, Glory, Hallelujah."