Founded nine years ago by the Wareham Boys & Girls Club, the Martin Luther King Jr. Spirit Awards honors students who demonstrate character, leadership, determination and the belief in justice and equality for all. The 2017 ceremony will feature a first when one of last year’s award winners – Wareham High School senior Jordan Phillips – returns as the keynote speaker.

All of this year’s Spirit Award winners will be announced during the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Breakfast on Jan. 16 at 9 a.m. in the Boys & Girls Club, located at 13 Highland Ave. in Onset. Each year, the Boys & Girls Club asks staff and administrations from all Wareham schools, Upper Cape Tech and Bishop Stang High School to nominate one Wareham resident from their respective schools for the awards.

Wareham Boys & Girls Club Unit Director Ken Fontes said event organizers usually choose a speaker with more life experience, but were impressed by Phillips after he spoke at a memorial service for friend Trey Miranda. The Onset teenager and former Wareham High School student passed away after battling a brain tumor this summer.

“We were in the audience and I couldn’t believe the passion that was coming from this 17-year-old kid,” said Fontes. “I had a lot of people ask me about having Jordan speak, and I was skeptical at first, but after I had a couple of conversations with him he was the easy choice.”

Phillips has accomplished a lot in both academics and athletics, which was another factor in choosing him to speak, said Fontes. The senior has been a captain of the high school football team, a member of the school’s award-winning DECA Club and president of the Global Education Club.

Fontes hopes Phillips will inspire other young people in town.

“Jordan is a wonderful young man and it’s a great time for the club to have a keynote speaker who will really resonate with the kids of our community,” said Fontes.

Wareham High School Principal Scott Palladino echoed those sentiments, saying Phillips is active in all aspects of student life.

“Jordan is a very involved student in the school – you name the activity and he seems to be involved with it,” said Palladino. “He’s a great kid who comes from a great family and is a great role model for our students to emulate.”

Tickets for the event cost $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and $7 for children. Order tickets by calling the Wareham Boys & Girls Club at 508-322-8722 or visit the Club between 2 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.