Ilana Olin and Wumei Blanche, members of Dr. Peggy Kendall’s lab, were both honored as Drum Major Award recipients on Tuesday, January 16th, 2024 by the WashU Medicine Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
In a 1968 sermon in Atlanta titled “The Drum Major Instinct”, Dr. King stated “Yes, if you want to say I was a drum major, say that I was a drum major for justice. Say that I was a drum major for peace. I was a drum major for righteousness”. We want to recognize individuals who embody Dr. King’s words and work.
The Drum Major Awards will recognize individuals at WashU School of Medicine who embody what it means to be an upstander. Awardees should be those who speak up or act in support of an individual or cause, particularly someone who intervenes on behalf of a person being bullied or attacked. Upstanders are people who speak and act against injustices, and represent the best of humanity today across the School of Medicine. They harness their character strengths to meet their moment and pursue justice, both great and small, inspiring others to do the same.