Good citizenship and character development are alive and well in Lake Highlands, as evidenced by awards recently given out by the Dallas Coalition on Character and Values. The coalition recognized two local groups for their community-support programs: the Lake Highlands High School received the Character Counts! School Award and the Lake Highlands Exchange Club received the Character Counts! Organization Award.

Sign up for our newsletter!

* indicates required

 

          Both the high school and the Exchange Club work together to sponsor monthly Character Counts! awards for Lake Highlands students who exemplify good citizenship and community values.

 

          The high school officially began its Character Counts! program in 2000. Various school-wide activities reward students and faculty for displaying the Six Pillars of Character traits: caring, citizenship, fairness, respect, responsibility and trustworthiness. In addition to the monthly awards, the school also conceived of Project Wisdom, a daily recognition over the public address system of students who display positive character traits and values.

 

          After September 11, LHHS also implemented religious tolerance activities including a question-and-answer panel with religious leaders and an educational “Eracism” T-shirt campaign. This year’s activities again focus on the Six Pillars, and a new program, titled “Campaign of Respect,” has begun. This program emphasizes five different areas of respect: self-respect, respect of community, surroundings, others and respect of one’s future.

 

          “The program recognizes good, decent, hard-working students,” says Kathryn Laster, LHHS student council advisor. She believes Character Counts! benefits teachers as well, because “they are able to reward students for being good citizens instead of issuing demerits for misbehaviors.”

 

          Since 2000, the Exchange Club has joined with LHHS in recognizing students who exhibit positive character traits at monthly recognition ceremonies and awarding those chosen with a plaque and Northpark Gold. Lake Highlands seniors also benefit from the club’s annual scholarships, totaling $40,000-$50,000.

 

          Organized in 1961, the club boasts the largest membership in Texas with 150 members. Additional activities include funding a Child Abuse Prevention Center and assisting with community members’ emergency needs. The group also doles out community recognition awards to teachers, police and fire department members and unsung heroes, in addition to the student awards.

 

Together, the Lake Highlands High School and Exchange Club programs are working together to encourage good citizenship throughout our community. Their efforts provide hope and prove the slogan developed by Lake Highlands students: “We can change the world tomorrow if we can change our minds today.”