Several activities mark the observance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday throughout the weekend in Newton County.

The 2014 MLK Jr. Ecumenical Program will take place at 3 p.m. today in the new Newton High School auditorium, 1 Ram Way.

District 43 Sen. Ronald B. Ramsey Sr. will be the keynote speaker, and the program will include performances by county youths and music by an interdenominational choir. Anyone who would like to participate should contact Reta Cobb at 770-786-4423. Also on the program will be presentations of the "I Have a Dream Award," the "Trailblazer Award," and the new "Young Dreamer Award."

In addition to the annual program, several other organizations will host activities in observance of the MLK holiday. Those events are as follows:

Each year, in memory of the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., citizens of Newton County, the Newton County Board of Commissioners and Oxford College of Emory University provide a four-year, full-tuition scholarship to a graduating high school student who is a Newton County resident.

Oxford College must receive completed admission applications and King Scholarship applications by March 1. In addition, students who apply must complete the FAFSA and CSS Profile by March 1.

The King Fund Selection Committee will base its selection on a student’s academic merit, financial need, level of extracurricular activities, and the quality of a required essay.

2014 Rams United -Hands on Newton Community Service Activities

Consistent with the holiday’s theme of "A Day On, Not a Day Off," students from Newton High School, along with Hands on Newton, are coordinating a few county-wide service projects, including a coat drive, a food drive, and a video compilation of oral histories of Newton County