NORMAL - Four Twin City high school students are the 2009 recipients of the Rev. Martin Luther King "I Have A Dream" awards presented by the Bloomington and Normal Human Relations Commissions.

Usually only two students, one from Bloomington and one from Normal, receive the award, but Bloomington Human Relations Commission Chairman Otis Evans said during a press conference Monday that there was such a good list of candidates this year, commission members had a tough time choosing.

"We narrowed it to three and then it got really tough," he said. "We decided to present to three fine individuals well deserving of such an award."

Bloomington's recipients are Julian Glover, a son of Joyce and Reuel Glover; Mani Pujitha Kallakuri, daughter of Suresh and Uma Kallakuri; and Darshan Thakkar, a son of Rita and Raj Thakkar.

Normal's youth recipient is Jessica Rardin, a daughter of David Rardin and Judi Sevel.

Julian Glover

Evans said Glover makes a concerted effort to educate others on the importance of respecting differences "and realizing that the only race that matters is the human race."

Glover recently received the Harry Hightower Youth Community Service Award from the Bloomington-Normal branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People; participated in the 2008-09 Mentoring and Providing Scholarships program; volunteers at BroMenn Regional Medical Center and for Toys for Tots; is captain of the Bloomington High School speech team; and is a renowned cellist. He is a member of the Principals Student Advocacy Board and president of the Urban League's TSTM youth program.

"My efforts hopefully will be long lasting," Glover said.

Mani Pujitha Kallakuri

Kallakuri volunteers at The Salvation Army and Home Sweet Home Ministries and is founding member of the Normal Community High School Interact Club, committed to improving international cooperation through service projects. She helps the McLean County India Association with the Festival of India and works with the Golden Jubilee Rotary Club in Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, India, to provide funding and materials to schools in lower-income areas.

Kallakuri said that because India segregates by social class, schools in underprivileged neighborhoods "don't have things we take for granted like pencils and books."

Darshan Thakkar

Thakkar is co-president of the NCHS Students Embracing Diversity Club and had a leadership role in the OxFam Hunger Banquet, designed to educate and raise awareness about hunger and poverty. All money raised went to local food banks.

He also helped organize the NCHS Mix It Up at Lunch Day; volunteers at The Salvation Army and WJBC Brotherhood Tree; participated in the Central Illinois Down Syndrome Organization Buddy Walk; and is active in the McLean County India Association.

"When I participated in all these things, I wasn't thinking about getting awards," he said. Instead his goal is to break down boundaries in school and get people to come together and understand different perceptions.

Jessica Rardin

Rardin is co-president of the NCHS Students Embracing Diversity Club and organized the OxFam Hunger Banquet and Mix It Up at Lunch Day. She is active in the Moses Montefiore Temple, helping organize the Jewish Response to Hunger Dinner, the Temple Food Fair and the Purim Carnival. She also is a counselor at Camp Ben Frankel.

She has volunteered at Neville House and Recycling for Families and tutors special education students.

She said she has learned "even the smallest thing can make the biggest difference."