Martin Luther King Jr. had a dream, and a group of individuals from Wareham are seeing to it that King’s dream becomes a reality.

A large crowd gathered at the Boys and Girls Club Monday morning for the seventh annual Martin Luther King Community Breakfast.

There, students and others from Wareham were honored for their community service, and several speakers spoke of the importance of embracing Dr. King’s ever-so-important mission.

“You don’t have to go further than your home town in your own lives,” said Representative Bill Keating, who spoke briefly at the breakfast. “We all have a need, no matter where we live, to speak up and be heard.”

At the breakfast, several Youth Spirit Awards were handed out to a handful of youngsters who embody what it means to be active in the community. Those awarded were:

• Madison St. Julien, a senior at Wareham High School and four-year honor roll member who Superintendent Dr. Kimberly Shaver-Hood called “a valuable member of Wareham High School.” St. Julien, who regularly volunteers at local soup kitchens and her church, was a unanimous vote for the award within the school.
• Jordan Elicier, a senior at Upper Cape Technical High School, whose teachers have described him as being “well-liked, respectful, and a mentor to younger students” and who has spent a lot of time caring for his disabled grandmother.
• Jeffry McDougal, Jr., a freshman at Bishop Stang High School who has a “lengthy track record of community service" and who while at Wareham Middle School created a project called 'Spring Greening,' which saw over 900 articles of used clothing collected for children in need.
• Haley Cincotta, a junior at the Wareham Cooperative School who has helped her mother at her daycare business and with caring for her siblings and foster children who make up her family. “We’re very proud of Haley,” said Principal Kathleen Moore.
• Nelson Ash, a senior at Upper Cape Tech who's volunteered countless hours at the Gleason Family YMCA. “Every year we’ve been open, he’s been there volunteering,” said Y Program Director Lu Brito.
• Kylie Decas, an eighth-grader at Wareham Middle who regularly volunteers to worthwhile causes. “She’s a remarkable young lady,” said Principal Dan Minkle, adding that Decas had pooled some of her own money with collected donations to help a less fortunate student at the school get Christmas gifts.
• Brendan Spenard, a student at Decas Elementary who Principal Donna Noonan described as “always there to be a good friend and a good listener” and who has helped with can drives and other charitable endeavors.
• Peyton Smith, a fourth-grader at Minot Forest Elementary who was nominated by her peers to be the President of the Kiwanis Club at the school, which takes part in community service projects such as coat and toy drives. “She’s very kind and considerate to all,” said Principal Joan Seamans.
• Anajae Council, a Wareham Middle schooler who while attending the Boys and Girls Club has helped younger students with homework and volunteered her time to help feed the homeless.
• Madison Murphy, another student at Wareham Middle who Boys and Girls Club Director Ken Fontes described as setting “a good example on how to act as a member of the Boys and Girls Club.”

Henry St. Julien, a teacher and leader of the Global Education Team at Wareham High School, was also awarded for his community service.

“His dedication to the students of Wareham High School for over 20 years is a true inspiration to all of these people,” said Fontes of St. Julien.

Fontes said the St. Juliens — Henry is Madison’s father — were the first father-daughter combo to both be awarded.

“I’m really happy to share the stage with my father,” said Madison St. Julien. “He taught me how to be who I am, and I’m happy they have these awards so other people can be admired for their work.”

Earlier in the meeting, a video created by WCTV showed people from in and around Wareham reading King’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech. Then, a microphone was passed around the room to each table, where a King-inspired quote was read from children involved with the club.

Those included Dominic Quelle, whose ‘dream’ is “to help the environment and have no more pollution,” Paige Flaherty, whose ‘dream’ is for all people to be able to afford healthcare, and Devin Johnson, who dreams for a cure for cancer.

The key note speaker for the event was Steve Baptiste, an Onset and Wareham staple who for years has served the community with his volunteer service and generous donations. Baptiste advised the audience to stay strong in hard times, and to continue to strive to be better.

“We’ve all had some struggles,” he said. “You have to forgive.”

“You have to teach love in your home,” he added. “If you do, your kids and grandkids will do the same.”