Nearly 175 West Virginia University students are kicking off the spring 2016 semester in a (BIG!) way: by giving back to their community and state through 12 service projects in three West Virginia cities as part of a nationally-recognized day of service.

The service projects taking place on Martin Luther King Jr. Day Monday (Jan. 18) are part of the launch of a larger, year-long campaign to encourage students to adopt a culture of service as part of their WVU experience.

“Monday’s service projects are the perfect way to kick off our 12 (BIG!) Days of Service campaign,” said Kristi Wood-Turner, Director of Learning and Engagement through the WVU Center for Service and Learning. “We want to excite students about the many benefits of serving others as we build our community together. There is no better way to start a new year than with a renewed sense of belonging, giving and learning.”

Click below to hear the WVUToday radio spot about the 12 Big Days of Service.

The service projects will take place at several sites across Morgantown, Fairmont and Charleston with community partners that include the American Red Cross, Christian Help, Bartlett House Main Street Fairmont, Morgantown Youth Services Projects and various soup kitchens.

The Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service is a collaborative effort between the Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and the Center for Service and Learning.

“WVU is honored to participate in the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service,” said David Fryson, vice president for equity and inclusion at WVU. “We are proud to involve our students in service activities in commemoration of the life of service demonstrated by Dr. King.”

Student volunteers will be recognized during the 25th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Unity Breakfast in the Mountainlair sponsored by the Center for Black Culture and Research. Following the breakfast, WVU will provide transportation to volunteers participating in service projects.

Approximately 30 student volunteers are still needed for the Charleston projects. Interested students can sign up here or are encouraged to call the Center for Service and Learning at 304-293-2906.

Future 12 (BIG!) Days of Service events will include projects scheduled for each month during the 2016 calendar year. Some projects being planned include involvement in Random Acts of Kindness Week in February and the Week of Engagement in April. Information about the events will be forthcoming and updated on students.wvu.edu as it becomes available.

WVU Student Government Association Vice President Ashley Morgan said there will be plenty of opportunities for students to participate in the 12 (BIG!) Days of Service campaign and immerse themselves in the positive culture of service that WVU is fostering for its students.

“The 12 (BIG!) Days of Service initiative is an extraordinary opportunity for the students at WVU to ‘Go First’ by providing service and showing the nation the true Mountaineer spirit,” said Morgan. “As a student leader, I am excited to be a part of this project and help to continue to change the culture here at WVU.”

All service that takes place on Martin Luther King Jr. Day or any of the subsequent 12 (BIG!) Days of Service can be counted toward fulfilling the goals of the Million Hour Match.

-WVU-

aw/hr/01/13/16

CONTACT: University Relations/News
304.293.6997

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