Representatives of the Hilo Association for Family and Community Education presented monetary awards to the Hilo winners of the Character Counts! Art and Essay Contest last week at their respective schools. Representatives of the Hilo Association for Family and Community
Representatives of the Hilo Association for Family and Community Education presented monetary awards to the Hilo winners of the Character Counts! Art and Essay Contest last week at their respective schools.
First-place winner Kobey Geronimo-Babas won $100 for his artwork and essay. All first-place entries from every island are submitted to the State FCE Council. Kobey’s entry received an honorable mention certificate. He is a student at Waiakeawaena Elementary School in Susan Lee’s fourth-grade class. Second-place winner is Kyrie Bartolome, who attends E.B. DeSilva School in Sarah Ferreira’s class. She received $50 for her entry. Third-place winner is Kyra Bockrath, a student at St Joseph School in Theresa Burian’s class. She received $25.
Annually across the nation, FCE members provide all fourth-grade teachers with information about the Character Counts! Art and Essay Contest, which promotes the six pillars of character: Caring, Citizenship, Fairness, Respect, Responsibility and Trustworthiness. This year, fourth-graders were asked to draw and write about “Trustworthiness.”
The program was developed by the Josephson Institute of Ethics for teachers to complement their curriculum on character building. The National Association for Family and Community Education has partnered with the Josephson Institute for the last 14 years to promote and teach ethical behavior to children and adults.
Chambrye Lagapa from Honokaa Elementary School was the first national FCE winner in 2000. She was presented with a $500 U.S. Savings Bond and her artwork and essay on “Caring” was published in the FCE 2001 Planner. In 2002, Jasmine Karcey from Maui won National FCE’s first-place honors and received the $500 U.S.. Savings Bond and had for her art and essay on “Responsibility” published in the National FCE Calendar. In 2011, Jaimielee Fellipe from Maui went on to win the national first-place award for her artwork and essay on “Caring” and received a certificate and a $500 U.S. Savings Bond.
“Membership in the Hilo Association for Family and Community Education is open to all interested individuals,” said a spokeswoman. “Members of this nonprofit volunteer organization believe in striving for the highest ideals of home life by having a sound body, a clear mind and a generous spirit.
“Members believe in friendly neighborliness and understanding of ideas and customs of races that are different from their own; and members are continually working toward building a peaceful home, working through their community and country for peace in the world,” she said. “They strive to achieve this through their mission statement to strengthen individuals, families and communities through continuing education, developing leadership and community action.
Contact President Liz Salfen at 982-8412 or the Cooperative Extension Service at 981-5199 for more information.
