Jan. 21 is dedicated to celebrate the life and accomplishments of Martin Luther King Jr.

As Aggies participated in community service projects around the city and walked in the MLK Parade, a group of Aggies traveled up to D.C. to witness the start of a second term for President Barack Obama.

On Monday, President Obama was sworn back into the White House as a part of his second inauguration.

The Presidential Inauguration was available for individuals to watch on televisions but students got an up close and firsthand experience as the university planned a bus trip to take them up to enjoy the inaugural festivities.

“Our students should have the opportunity to participate in the inauguration for the second term of the nation’s first African American president. I think it brings emotion and connection to this president and this first family,” said Chancellor Harold L. Martin.

With President Obama’s inauguration taking place on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, this year is the second time that a federal holiday has coincided with a presidential inauguration.

The first was Bill Clinton’s in 1997. This day brought a stronger meaning to students as they not only got to celebrate the legacy of Dr. King but got a chance to witness the first African-American president is inaugurated the same day.

 “I think that it is tremendous to have the presidential inauguration on MLK Day because it shows that America is in a transgression period and we are moving forward,” said SGA President, Allahquan Tate.

Tate, who witnessed the first inauguration of President Obama, felt this year was more somber compared to 2009.

For other students, this was their first time at an inauguration and in the city.

A&T gave 95 students the opportunity to take a once in a lifetime trip with their fellow collegiates.

A little less than 500 students applied for this experience promoted via Facebook and twitter during winter break.

“I felt like the trip was a wonderful opportunity and experience and it also allowed me to be apart of history,” said Ahmad Alston, a freshman graphic communications major from Newark, N.J.

Back in Greensboro, Aggies and local high schools joined up for the MLK Parade.

Other events around the city, Bounce-U, which is for the youth to come play and learn about Martin Luther King Jr., took place.

 “It was a lot of fun walking in my first MLK parade. Just the joy and excitement from the residents along Martin Luther King Jr. Drive was best part,” said A’Dia Gaskins, a junior chemical engineering major from D.C.

Though the inauguration is over, the honoring of Martin Luther King Jr. continues.

N.C. A&T has developed a week of events for the students and Greensboro community to join.

Last night, members of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated hosted a candle light vigil in honor of MLK followed by an oratorical contest.

A&T has teamed up with University of North Carolina at Greensboro to present a commemorative program-featuring speaker, Dick Gregory Tonight starting at 7 p.m. at Aycock Auditorium.

To close out the Martin Luther King Jr. celebration, A&T will host a gospel concert extravaganza in Harrison Auditorium beginning at 7 p.m. featuring the A&T Fellowship Gospel Choir and James B. Dudley High School Gospel Choir.

For more on these programs, you can go to www.ncat.edu and look under “News and Events.”

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Kameron James contributed to this story.

• Erik Veal, Editor-in-Chief