Index of University Press Releases

Feb. 13, 2009

Dakota Wesleyan alumnus wins Humanitarian Award

Karl Kroger

MITCHELL — Karl Kroger, a DWU 2005 graduate, was chosen one of six Emory University students to receive the school’s 2009 Humanitarian Award.

Emory president James Wagner conferred the awards on the six recipients at a ceremony on February 3. Chosen from a pool of more than 60 nominees, Kroger was recognized for his work as an advocate for Troy Davis, a current Georgia death row inmate convicted of the 1989 murder of Savannah police officer Mark MacPhail.

Currently in his final year of the Master of Divinity program at Emory’s Candler School of Theology in Atlanta, Kroger has organized a broad network of supporters across campus and community lines to bring attention to the Davis case, spearheading banner drops from railroad bridges and overpasses to raise awareness and leading prayer vigils on the steps of the state capitol.

“My faith has compelled me to fight for justice for Troy Davis and many others,” Kroger said. “Being a part of a movement of people with similar convictions has been inspiring and life-giving. Through a man on death row I experienced personal transformation and saw social change.”

Candler student body president Kim Jackson nominated Kroger for the award, stating, “His compassion was most evidenced in the prayer vigils [for Troy Davis] that he led on the steps of the capitol. The songs, prayers, and words that he lifted up on those cool windy nights were full of love and compassion. Karl has a wonderful balance of righteous indignation and compassion… a balance that propelled us to fight for justice on the one hand, and pray for peace on the other.”

Jan Love, dean of Candler School of Theology, seconded Jackson’s comments. “We rejoice in this high honor bestowed on Karl Kroger. An extraordinary spirit of grace, love, mercy and justice pervades his leadership at Candler. As with many of our students, we in the faculty and administration know more of Christ’s presence when we witness Karl’s engagement in the community, and for that, we give thanks to God.”

Though much of Jackson’s nomination letter speaks to Kroger’s work on the Troy Davis case, she points out that his activism extends beyond this single issue. “He has dedicated much of his life to advocating for the poor and the oppressed. Furthermore, he’s done a remarkable job of convincing his friends and fellow students to join him in that work,” said Jackson. Kroger is president of Candler’s Social Concerns Network, and during his time at DWU, he was instrumental in the successful effort to end the juvenile death penalty in South Dakota in 2004.

Recipients of the Emory Humanitarian Award are nominated by students, staff, faculty, or alumni and are chosen based on the criteria:

• consistently living with honesty, integrity, responsibility and a sense of the welfare of the community;
• special acts of courage benefiting others;
• unusual commitment of time and energy in the service to others;
• special gifts of friendship.