In May 2005, the Sioux Empire CHARACTER COUNTS! Coalition recognized youth and adults at the ninth annual local American Youth Character Awards event. Southwest Optimists helped support the program for the fifth year in a row. Excel Energy donated the monetary prize for each finalist, and Sioux Vocational Services defrayed the cost of the room. To see the names of the honorees, go here: http://www.charactercounts.org/ayca/honorees.htm