The Martin Luther King, Jr. West Virginia Holiday Commission is seeking nominees for the “Living the Dream” awards to be presented as part of the national Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday observance. The public is invited to nominate candidates for the awards. The holiday will be celebrated on January 21, 2008.
The Commission will present five awards to individuals who best exemplify, through action or personal traits, the principles and ideals characterizing the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in his pursuit of social change. Any person, regardless of race, color or creed, may be nominated in the following categories:
1. Advocate of Peace–one who has been an advocate of nonviolent social change
2. Sharing of Self–one who has rendered service to others in the public or private sector
3. Human and Civil Rights–one who has been actively involved in the pursuit of equality for others. This person should be an advocate for social change
4. Scholarship–one who has made significant contributions in the area of education
5. Governor’s Living the Dream Award–one who best exemplifies all the characteristics of justice, scholarship, sharing of self, human and civil rights, and advocacy of peace
The Commission also will place up to three state service organizations on the Living the Dream Service Organization Honor Roll. Qualifying organizations must have demonstrated one or more of the following principles for which King stood: the promotion of human and civil rights; providing assistance to under-served communities; promotion of tolerance; and resolving conflict in a nonviolent manner.
Letters of nomination for individuals or organizations must be received by Dec. 4. The letters must be two pages or less in length and must include the nominee’s biography and specific examples of why the nominee should be recognized. Documentation in the form of clippings, testimonials or excerpts from other printed materials by or about the candidate may be included to support the nomination. In addition, applications must include the name of the person submitting the nomination, as well as an address and daytime phone number.
Send nominations and supporting information to “Living the Dream” Awards, Martin Luther King Jr. West Virginia Holiday Commission, c/o West Virginia Division of Culture and History, The Cultural Center, 1900 Kanawha Blvd. E., Charleston, WV 25305-0300.
For more information about the “Living the Dream” awards, call (304) 558-0220.
Each year the Commission also sponsors a poster competition for West Virginia students. The theme for this year’s poster competition is “Inheriting a world house: Learning to live together in harmony,” based on a quote from King’s memorable Nobel Peace Prize lecture in 1964.
The competition is open to all West Virginia students in grades K-12. Each entrant is allowed one entry, which must be mounted on illustration board and can be no larger than 24” x 30.”
Three awards will be given in the each of the following categories: K-2 grades, 3-5 grades, 6-8 grades and 9-12 grades. The official rules for the competition and a downloadable entry form can be found at www.wvmlkholidaycommission.org.
Entries must be received by Dec. 1 and should be mailed or delivered to Martin Luther King Jr. Poster Contest, West Virginia Holiday Commission, Attn: Patricia Wilson, P.O. Box 751, Institute, W.Va. 25112.
For more information about the poster competition, call Wilson at (304) 768-3448 or by e-mail at wilsonpat1@suddenlink.net.
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