Georgia Tech is set to honor Congressman John Lewis.

A spokeswoman for Lewis said the civil rights icon is to receive the Ivan Allen Jr. Prize for Social Courage Thursday. The ceremony is taking place on the 45th anniversary of the assassination of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

In a speech at the event Lewis plans to speak about King's legacy and to discuss one of the last sermons King delivered at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta.

Lewis said in a statement that he was in Indianapolis working with Robert Kennedy's campaign for president when Kennedy told them King had died. Lewis recalls a "sad and dark hour" for people around the world.

Tags: Georgia Tech, Civil Rights, John Lewis, Martin Luther King Jr., civil rights icon, civil rights leaders, Ivan Allen Jr. Prize for Social Courage, assassination