Living the Dream Award nominations being solicited

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Supreme Court Justice Larry V. Starcher, as co-chairman of the Living the Dream Awards Committee, is soliciting nominations for the Martin Luther King, Jr., West Virginia Holiday Commission awards.

Nomination letters must be received by the West Virginia Division of Culture and History by December 4, 2008. Nominations may be accompanied by a short essay, with specific examples of how the nominee meets the standard of the award category. Documentation in written form, such as news clippings, testimonials or excerpts from printed materials may be attached.

The awards will be presented during the Martin Luther King, Jr., Holiday Celebration on January 17, 2009.

Five awards will be given to individuals who best exemplify King’s principles and ideals in pursuit of social change.

– An advocate of peace: A person who has been an advocate of non-violent social change.

– Sharing of Self: A person who has rendered to others in the public or private sector.

– Human and civil rights: Someone who has been active in the pursuit of equality for others and an advocate for social change.

– Scholarship: Someone who has made significant contributions in the area of education.

– Governor’s Living the Dream Award: Someone who best exemplifies the characteristics of justice, scholarship, sharing of self, human and civil rights and advocacy of peace.

The Commission also will recognize up to three state service organizations for placement on the Living the Dream Service Organization Honor Roll. The organizations must have demonstrated one or more of the principles for which King stood. Those principles are promoting human and civil rights, helping under-served communities, promoting tolerance, and resolving conflict in a non-violent manner.

For more information, call (304) 558-0220.

Nomination forms are available on the holiday commission Web site, www.wvmlkholidaycommission.org

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