On April 9th at 5:00 pm, Character Counts! Kent County will present the winners of the 5th Annual Six-Pillar Essay Contest at the Decker Theatre, The Gibson Center for the Arts, Washington College.  The Six-Pillar Essay Contest is graciously sponsored by the United Way of Kent County. Awards night attendees will have the opportunity to hear selections of amazingly thoughtful essays from our 2014 winners.. The auditorium will be filled with our partners, our Kent County families and students and our Character Coaches on Wednesday night in support of participating students.

The 2014 winners were selected countywide from 1,358 participating students; with 1st, 2nd and 3rd place awards given at each grade level. To view this years winners, click here. The view this years winning essays, click here. 

Two years ago Washington College Basketball Coach, Rob Nugent, was honored for his display of compassion and character on the court. Nugent made national sports headlines when he instructed his players to foul Gettysburg senior Cory Weissman, who was paralyzed in a training accident, to give him a chance to score his only points in a varsity game. Weissman made the second of two free throws and received a standing ovation. The incident was cited widely as an example of the kind of sportsmanship lost in the “win-at-all-costs” atmosphere of modern sports.

The inspirational tale has been made into a movie, “1,000 to 1: The Cory Weissman Story” in which Nugent plays himself.  The movie premiere was this past weekend and the DVD will be available for purchase from Amazon.com starting tomorrow, February 4th, 2014. For more information on the movie, check out www.1000to1movie.com. 

Rob Nugent was the keynote speaker at the third Character Counts essay award ceremony. In a moving address to local students, who represented public and private schools from all parts of Kent County, Nugent engaged them in a lively question-and-answer session. His theme was “Me vs. We,” thinking unselfishly about the greater good as opposed to personal advantage.

On Friday February 21st, at its Convocation Ceremony, Washington College honored local character-education program, Character Counts!, and civic leader, Richard Goodall, with its President’s Medal. The Washington College President’s Medal is presented each year to an individual or organization that has made a sustained positive contribution to the quality of life in the region. Washington College President, Mitchell Reiss, delivered a citation of the Character Counts! program:

Say “please” and “thank you”. Don’t interrupt. Share. Don’t cheat. Admit your mistakes. Greet people with a smile and a firm handshake.

Such seemingly small lessons in good manners and citizenship can make a huge difference in a child’s future success. When the local Character Counts! program sends more than a hundred volunteer “character coaches” into Kent County classrooms each week, they help our community’s young people become better friends, better students, better neighbors. A bonus for the schools: The more the character coaches succeed in their mission, the more time their host teachers can devote to academics rather than to discipline and classroom order.

A diverse lot with a variety of backgrounds and experiences to share, the coaches range from Washington College students to civic-minded retirees. Equipped with lesson plans, enthusiasm and a loving concern for children, they teach the program’s six pillars of character– Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring and Citizenship. Just as importantly, they share their own life experiences and become role models for how to build a successful life.

While the Character Counts! lesson plans may be tailored to audiences aged 5 to 15, these six pillars can serve as a framework for how all of us, ages 5 to 105, should treat each other. Trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship? Yes, please! Thank you.

For their ongoing commitment to teaching the essentials of good character and for serving as role models for the young people of our community, Washington College is pleased to present a President’s Medal– our version of a Gold Star– to the volunteer coaches of Character Counts! of Kent County.

 
Mitchell B. Reiss
President
February 21, 2014

Each month, Garnett Elementary School recognizes students who exemplify the six pillars of outstanding character. The pillar for the month of December was “caring.” Students of the month receive a certificate from the principal and a coupon for a free pizza from sponsor Pizza Hut.

The Kent County News covered a spectacular display of support for Kent County’s Public Schools by local business Dixon Valve.  “At the school board meeting on Monday, January 13th, Dixon Valve made a donation of $48,687 – the balance of what was needed to purchase math books for third, fourth and fifth graders. In its fiscal year 2014 budget, the Kent County Board of Education allocated $250,000 for math and reading textbooks for elementary school students.” According to Dr. Couch, Kent has not been in the position to purchase new textbooks in 15 to 20 years. 

The check was presented to Superintendent Karen Couch by Keira McColigan, a fourth-grader who attends Worton Elementary School. She was accompanied by her Father Jim, a Dixon employee and the President of Character Counts! Kent County. Dixon Valve and Chief Executive Officer, R.L. Goodall have been long term supporters of Kent County’s Public Schools. A total of 32 Dixon employees are Character Coaches, visiting a classroom every week – some coaches for many years now – for a short lesson in ethical values. 

According to the Kent County News, “Dixon Valve & Coupling Co. is the largest private supporter of Kent County schools – in terms of money and volunteers.”  Thank you Dixon Valve for being a true business of Character, CC!KC is proud to of your immense support and involvement in our organization. 

To read the full article from The Kent County News, click here.