CHARLESTON -- The Martin Luther King Jr. West Virginia Holiday Commission is seeking nominations for the annual "Living the Dream" awards.

The award recognizes five West Virginians in a number of areas, including:

An Advocate of Peace, a person who has been an advocate of nonviolent 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; and 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.

Three state service organizations also will be placed on the Living the Dream Service Organization Honor Roll. The organizations must have demonstrated one or more of the principles for which King stood, such as promoting human and civil rights, helping under-served communities, promoting tolerance and resolving conflict in a non-violent manner.

The awards will be presented during the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Celebration on Saturday, Jan. 16, 2010.

Nomination letters must be received by the West Virginia Division of Culture and History by Monday, Dec. 7. The nomination may include 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. Nomination forms are available on the holiday commission Web site, www.wvmlkholidaycommission.org.

For more information, call 304-345-7663 or visit www.jrclifford.org.

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