“The ultimate measure of man is not where he stands in the moment of comfort and convenience but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” - Martin Luther King
Sriyani Tidball was honored Jan. 15 for promoting the dream articulated by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Tidball, a member of the CoJMC advertising faculty, received the Martin Luther King Award during ceremonies at the state capitol. Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman presented the award, recognizing her involvement in community initiatives and her accomplishments in caring for others.
Tidball has worked to combat human trafficking both globally and locally. She has also worked with the poor in Sri Lanka for many decades and in recent years helped with the relief and restoration work in Sri Lanka after the tsunami.
“When I first came to Lincoln, Nebraska, it was during 1968,” Tidball said. “I was always very interested in civil rights issues. I came to Lincoln East High School as their first foreign exchange student from Sri Lanka through American Field Service program. Actually I was the only person of color in all the six grades of Lincoln East High, that year.
“When Martin Luther King got shot, I was devastated, as I was a huge fan of this man, his faith and commitment. He inspired me and showed me how important it was to feel passionate about what you believed in and be willing to die for it. Today to get an award with his name on it is very humbling and it means a great deal to me.”
At the Jan. 15 ceremony, Tidball dedicated her award to those unsung heroes who were working in Haiti to bring relief and restoration to the thousands injured and left homeless by the Jan. 12 earthquake.