The Messenger - April 7, 2006
FD youths honored for good character
By BILL SHEA Messenger staff writer

The Six Pillars of Character emblazoned on banners, signs and even official documents have become a fixture in the education of Fort Dodge young people.

On Thursday, 36 youths who have made those pillars - Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring and Citizenship - an essential part of their lives were honored. Six of those young people won state honors as well as local ones and are now finalists for a national Character Counts contest. They are Megan Axne, Kaylee Cordle, Mandy Crimmins, Rose Crimmins, Spenser Emory and Adam Winge."

Few things in this world are more powerful than strong character values," said Casey Johnson, a member of the Character Counts in Fort Dodge Board.

"These kids here tonight put Fort Dodge on the map in a very positive way," he added. The youths will face unique responsibilities and perhaps some gut-wrenching decisions in life as they adhere to the Six Pillars, according to Jim Hallihan, executive director of the Iowa Games. He entertained the audience of about 120 people at the Christian Life Center of the First Presbyterian Church with stories, quotes from books and audience participation questions. His theme through all of the showmanship was that good character makes a difference in people's lives.

"The impact that character can have by people caring for other people can make the whole better," he said.A person's character, he said, shows in the decisions they make. He said good character sometimes means "making a tough decision that's going to cost you more than you care to pay."

The price Hallihan talked about has nothing to do with dollars and cents. Instead, he described a painful emotional price, such as losing a friend, at least temporarily, by speaking to them about their drinking.

Hallihan said people who believe in the Six Pillars of Character have a responsibility to others.The young people honored Thursday were among 150 nominated by teachers and youth leaders in the community, according to Pam Bunte, the local Character Counts coordinator.

She said the youths at the banquet wrote essays describing how at least one of the Six Pillars impacted their lives. Their essays also referred to words of wisdom called Timeless Truths for Everyday Living provided by the Foundations for Life.

Judges from the local Character Counts board picked the winning essay writers.Thursday's event was the fifth annual Character Counts awards ceremony in Fort Dodge.