A record number of civic-minded students at Missouri University of Science and Technology will participate in the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service by taking “A Day ON, Not a Day Off” on Monday, Jan. 20. This year, 240 students will volunteer throughout Phelps County, up 20 percent over last year’s participation.

Following registration and breakfast, the group will work from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on 16 projects in Rolla, St. James and Newburg. Projects include highway cleanup, helping the elderly, rehabilitating a church, packing food for the Able Commission and working with The Community Partnership and Tri-County Humane Society. Missouri S&T staff members will serve as leaders at each work site.

The first Martin Luther King Jr. Day was observed in 1986. In 1994, as a tribute to King’s personal commitment to service, Congress designated the day a national day of service. Missouri S&T volunteers will join the efforts of thousands of individuals and organizations across the county to commemorate the day. This year will be S&T’s sixth year to participate.