PARKERSBURG - West Virginia University at Parkersburg has been named a 2010 Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service Host Campus.

The distinction is awarded by the West Virginia Campus Compact and includes a mini-grant, funded by North Carolina Campus Compact and the Corporation for National and Community Service.

"Host campuses will be using funding to honor Dr. King by meeting community needs, making Martin Luther King Day a day of service rather than leisure," noted Franchesca Nestor, director of the West Virginia Campus Compact.

WVU Parkersburg's service activity will benefit a local organization. Tom Yencha, director of student activities, said WVU Parkersburg will use its $340 mini-grant to implement a service project on Martin Luther King Jr. Day which will involve painting and cleaning the Parkersburg Boys and Girls Club.

"There are currently 22 West Virginia Campus Compact member institutions," she noted. "The fact that WVU Parkersburg's proposal was one of those selected for funding demonstrates WVU Parkersburg's strong commitment to service and to the community."