The City of Demopolis was selected by the University of West Alabama National Alumni Association to receive the 2009 West Alabama Community Service Award.

The award will be given on Saturday, Oct. 31, at 1:30 p.m. at the Bell Conference Center on the campus of the University of West Alabama.

The West Alabama Community Service Award began in 1994 and has been given annually ever since. Past recipients include Alabama Power Company (1994), James River Corporation’s Naheola Mill (1995), WTOK-TV (2002) and Regions Financial Corporation (2008).

“This is a terrific honor to be associated with an established and upcoming university,” said Demopolis mayor Mike Grayson. “It makes it special for us, and we are just very pleased to be recognized like this.”

“This award was given for what the City of Demopolis has contributed to the University of West Alabama, how they have helped us over the past years or years past,” said TyAnne Stone, the director of alumni relations. “Also, it is in recognition for their support of the university. The award is given to outstanding organizations or businesses who make valuable contributions to the West Alabama region.”

“I can’t begin to tell you the things that UWA has done since taking over (the Demopolis Higher Education Center),” said DHEC director Angelia Mance. “In the fall, we offered the technology courses for the first time on campus. They’re about to put in a back walkway and new lighting. They’re redoing the front signage. They are cleaning our floors and the building itself for the first time since the building has been here.

“The award was, I think, in recognition for all of the things that have been done and the possibilities that they see here, and the true partnership that can exist.”

Demopolis will host a UWA exhibition softball game against Marion Military Institute on Friday at 4 p.m. at the Sports-Plex, one of several UWA sporting events to be hosted by the city.