MACON, Ga. — Mercer University’s Grayson Bolinaga, CLAS ’29, and Kristopher Hammond, CLAS ’29, have been selected for internships with The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change in Atlanta.
Bolinaga and Hammond are two of 10 students selected from across the country for the program that will run through December and includes virtual nonviolence training sessions, instructional sessions with Civil Rights experts and Kingian scholars, and direct dialogue with King Center CEO Bernice A. King, J.D., daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King.
“Our aim is to help the students learn more about Dr. King’s philosophy,” said Rev. Joseph T. Howard Sr., internship and fellowship manager for The King Center. “Additionally, we want to learn from the students and glean insights from them and how they see our world in 2026.”
From Metamora, Illinois, Bolinaga is a philosophy, Latin and classical studies triple-major. At Mercer, he is president of both the Astronomy Student Association and the Mercer University Book Club. After graduation, he plans to attend graduate school for theology or philosophy and become a college professor.
“I am looking forward to conversing with Kingian scholars and researching nonviolent solutions to social problems,” said Bolinaga. “I am extremely blessed to have an opportunity to pursue King’s philosophy under the mentorship of some of the most intelligent scholars in the field.”
“As a philosophy major, Grayson is not only a positive man, but he also has a critical, discerning mind, and his writing and communication skills are solid,” said Marc Jolley, Ph.D., senior lecturer in the departments of philosophy and Great Books. “But more importantly, he has that Aristotelian understanding of friendship and collegiality. And he possesses a characteristic that is seen less and less these days: empathy. He will do well with this MLK internship, and he will be a wonderful representative of Mercer University.”
From Duluth, Hammond is a philosophy and psychology double-major. He is in the Honors program, a Stamps Scholar and on the debate team. After graduation, he hopes to attend law school.
“I’m super excited to work with the King Center as well as learn more about Dr. King’s philosophy of nonviolence,” Hammond said.
Patrick Jolley, adjunct professor of philosophy, has taught Hammond in several classes.
“His commitment to both scholarship and justice is inspiring and a joy to experience in the classroom,” he said. “The King Center is lucky to have him, and I look forward to hearing about his experiences.
About The King Center
Established in 1968 by Mrs. Coretta Scott King, The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change (The King Center) has been a global destination, resource center and community institution for over a quarter century. The King Center is a 501(c)3. Nearly a million people each year make pilgrimage to the National Historic Site to learn, be inspired and pay their respects to Dr. King’s legacy.
