In May, a group of exceptional individuals received the 2005 Outstanding Character and Civic Responsibility Awards (cosponsored by the Youth Services Division of First Tennessee Human Resources Agency and Tusculum College). Each county in the region nominated individuals who exemplify all Six Pillars of Character and give selflessly to their communities. Of all the submissions, 18 received the Award.

At Fairmont Elementary in Johnson City, Carrie Marchant -- director of the Youth Services Division and a CC! national faculty member -- has been meeting monthly with the kids for CHARACTER COUNTS!. Six Pillar activities have abounded and the students have fully participated. At the final session they made a flag using cutouts of their hands, with their own pictures as the stars. The flag was presented to Johnson City Vice-Mayor Dr. Phil Roe during the Youth Services' "Banking on Our Kids" Moral Kombat Heroes Celebration and Fundraiser. The flag is now on display at the mayor's office in Johnson City.

Hancock County, one of the smaller rural counties in Tennessee, is proving itself a stronghold for CHARACTER COUNTS! and in fact has created a CC! Park that features a Six Pillar gazebo. Local vocational school students built the gazebo, with supplies donated by local businesses, and it was dedicated with the help of local children, business leaders, high school guidance counselor Janet Clonse, Carrie Marchant, and Ashley Eicher, the reigning Miss Tennessee.