More than 200 people attended the first peace service and march yesterday at the Pasquerilla Spiritual Center to recognize the achievements of Martin Luther King Jr. and to raise awareness of service in the community.

Students read excerpts from several of King's speeches, including his famous "I Have a Dream" speech, focusing on the themes of hope, service, education, social justice and good works.

Theodore Jackson, co-director of the MLK Day of Service, told the audience that the peace service was "an opportunity to reflect upon these themes."

"This year, we challenge you to wake up and realize the dream," he said.

A group of fifth graders from TEAM (Together Everyone Achieves More) Academy, a charter school from New Jersey that helps kids who are behind in their education, also gave a performance.

Torrey Leitzell (senior-health, policy and administration), who attended the service for a class, said it was a great event because it raises awareness in the community.

Denise Ziobro, also a co-director of the event, ended the peace service echoing the day's theme of "Wake Up! Realize the Dream."

"When you're awake, you're more aware," Ziobro said.

After a moment of silence, the audience was given candles to hold during the march.

The participants, clad in bright yellow shirts, marched single file down Curtin and Pollock roads to the HUB-Robeson Center. The march ended the day's events with a dinner at the HUB and the opening of the Tunnel of Oppression, an interactive display of various forms of oppression over the years.

"I think [the service] was very nice. It was very inspirational," Donisha Adams (junior-journalism) said.

Adams, before the march, said the candles and yellow shirts would grab people's attention as they walked.

"People have to look up and wonder what's going on," she said.