Highland Park Character Counts Awards

The 2008 Highland Park Character Counts Award Ceremony was held on April 22, 2008. Mayor Michael D. Belsky was named the Humanitarian of the Year, and listed below are 51 accomplished individuals who were awarded with Robert Barnard Character Counts Pillar Awards:

Zack Brint, Teresa Castro, Burt Chaikin, Gabriella Cooperman, Dan & Margo LaCosse, Loren Dixon, Jessica Dukatt, Sarah Elbaum, Shelly Fairman, Emma Fleisher, Anna Fox, Jason Fox, Rebecca Fox, Sarah Fox, Sheila Goldberg, Joanne Gordon, Emily Halpern, Gabriella Heller, Judy Hutton, Ivy Klee, Nathan Korn, Samantha Kraft, James Liebenson, Raizel Lieberman, Dana Maresco, Ana Morales, Nick Morof, Charlotte Nawor, Lauren Nesher, Daniel Ocampo, Barbara Paget, Sharon Palandri, Mary Jo Papich, Jovany Parra, Mary Pike, John Rachal, Grace Rhoades, John L. Ropiequet, Sophie Roskin, Don Rubin, Peter Salaban, Carly Schwartz, Barbara Sereda, Jami Sharfman, Dean Sheftel, Alyssa Smolensky, Ginger Stokes, Penny Urbon, Brian Vasquez, and Leah Wittenberg

Please see the menu on the left side of this page to review the accomplishments of all award winners!

Click Play to View the 2008 Character Counts Award Ceremony!

Why Promote Character?

With hurried lifestyles of today’s families, youth can be influenced less by their families and more by media and individuals outside the home.

It is our responsibility as citizens of this community to surround young people with positive images and values. If we don’t like the choices youth are making, we need to look at the choices they are being shown.

Character is developed through examples and practice. Youth need consistent reinforcement of good character from the community.

Area schools focus on character education, but youth need to see and hear positive values at home, at school, and throughout the community.

Coalition

The Highland Park Character Counts! Steering Committee is made up of individuals from Highland Park City Council and Staff, District 112 Schools, Park District, businesses, agencies and community. The coalition, which is supported by the Highland Park Mayor and City Council, is striving to promote Character Counts! not only to the schools, but to the community as a whole.

Vision

The City of Highland Park promotes and provides for the safety, health and welfare of its residents and corporate citizens and therefore embraces the principle that character counts in the home; in the school; in the work place and in civic programs.

The Goal of Character Counts! in Highland Park

To provide leadership and coordination for the development of citizens who model, and encourage positive character in their homes, schools, businesses, recreational facilities, service organizations, religious organizations, and broader community.

Character Counts! is a character development framework based on shared beliefs and consensus values concerning qualities and traits associated with good character. These values transcend cultural, socio-economic, and religious differences. Character education is all about a way of life for children and adults. Children may not always listen to what we say, but they will believe what we do. This is precisely why a community that recognizes and promotes the “Six Pillars of Character” makes a great place to live, work, and learn.

Highland Park encourages everyone to adopt, teach and utilize the "Six Pillars of Character." This work will create a community where all citizens personally and collectively embrace the principle that CHARACTER COUNTS!

Children Are Our Future…

Children are 27% of our population, but 100% of our future. Character education is everyone’s responsibility. We need YOU to get involved by becoming a supporter of Character Counts!

Character Counts! is not intended to replace other ongoing programs in the community, or elsewhere. Simply put, the goal of Character Counts! is to encourage community involvement in developing citizens of good character.

How Can You Be Involved?

• Model good character.
• Promote good character and character messages in the home, work and the community.
• Include information about the initiative on meeting agendas, newsletters, etc.
• Recognize people with good character.
• Organize a community service activity.
• Contribute financial support.

For more information on how Highland Park began the Character Counts! initiative, how it is maintained, or how to bring Character Counts! into your life, please check out: "Bringing Character Counts! To Communities" – An official outline of Character Counts! inception into Highland Park and how it has maintained its continued success within the community.