Every month, teachers at Cummings Valley Elementary School select one student who has demonstrated the character trait chosen that month. Several students who were commended for practicing “Trustworthiness: Promise-Keeping and Loyalty” during March were highlighted in the Tehachapi News.

Paul Fly Elementary School is wrapping up an exciting year of CHARACTER COUNTS! activities. Students learned to care for animals by holding a drive to collect food and supplies for pets. Students demonstrated the Pillar of responsibility through lunchtime chants and bulletin-board displays.

Fourth graders even started a new tradition by awarding a daily “Gold Trash Can” to the cleanest classroom. The award, in addition to skits, posters and songs, shows students they are responsible not only for their own actions, but for their environment as well. Celebrating a different Pillar each month provides many opportunities for students and staff to promote good character.

Character pays off everywhere, but in two Ogden schools it has become part of the economy. When students at Valley and Roosevelt Elementary show behavior that exemplifies the Six Pillars, they receive slips they can spend at the school store. Counselor Gary Smith, who runs the program, says, "My teachers like it because the students want to earn the slips to trade with me in the store."

Smith has used CHARACTER COUNTS! for five years and says he has gotten "many great comments" from parents, teachers, and students. "I love the curriculum because it does not matter what class I go into, I can teach the Pillars on their level. I have seen great results in the behavior of our students. There is not another program that gives me what I get from the Pillars."

On March 22, 2005, CC! in Montgomery County honored 12 individuals as Champions of Character.

Part of the goal, board member Cheryl Keim told the Crawfordsville Journal Review, was to reward "people who are behind the scenes. I don’t think most of those people are on the front page everyday.” The board hopes to hold this event every year.

Award winners were: Cody Bowman, Melanie Daughtery, Bailey Deacon, Kandie Dopkowski, Makinze Gaines, Ahtziri Jiminez-Toledano, Matthew Musselman, Bethany Hendricks, Curtis McVay, Ethel Sayler, Mildred Thompson and Jamie Welliever.