Many are honored at annual Character Awards Luncheon

Fourteen students, an elementary school, and a longtime Burleson banker/volunteer were honored at the Burleson Character Awards Luncheon at First United Methodist Church on Thursday.

The Burleson Character Program is a joint effort of the City of Burleson, Burleson Independent School District, Burleson Area Chamber of Commerce, and Burleson Ministerial Alliance.

The first place winners in the Character Essay contest include Kristie Huneycutt, third-fourth grade category, Bransom Elementary; Noah Ray, fifth grade, Academy at Nola Dunn; and Caitlan Smelley, secondary level, Burleson High School.

The runners-up at the third-fourth grade level include Madeleine Barnes, second, Mound Elementary; Paulina Borowski, third, Mound; Kately Peterson, honorable mention, Mound; and Brittnee Frazier, honorable mention, Frazier Elementary.

Runners-up in fifth grade include Trystan Allen, second place, Mound; Joseph Heimbigner, third place, home school; and Taylor Gasca, honorable mention, the Academy.

At the secondary level, Taylor Wilborn came in second and Kyle Beckrich placed third.

At the kindergarten level, Sydney Lewis and Kamryn Ingersoll, both from the Academy, won honorable mention.

The essay topic was "What group or organization has contributed to making Burleson a City of Character? The winning students wrote about doctors, police officers, First Baptist Church, City of Burleson employees, Upward Sports, Brazos Christian Church, firefighters, Relay For Life, the Rotary Club, Girl Scouts, the Make A Difference Club at Kerr Middle School, and the National Honor Society at Kerr.

The Organizational Character Award was given to the Academy at Nola Dunn. The award recognizes an organization that emphasizes and teaches character traits in a creative and motivating atmosphere. The Academy uses the five Olympic rings to emphasize five character traits. At the beginning of the school year, there is a raising of the rings ceremony. Students write essays about the character traits and sing a character song. Character is emphasized throughout the year at the elementary school.

 

The Byron Black Character Award went to Patsy Dumas. The award is presented to someone who lives the principles of the City of Character initiative. Dumas has been part of the program since its inception. She is also involved in the Burleson Making It Happen For Kids Foundation, is a past president of the Burleson Area Chamber of Commerce and Burleson Rotary Club, is vice president of Keep Burleson Beautiful, is an Athena Award winner and a member of the Burleson Community Chorale, and is an advocate for the American Cancer Society Relay For Life.

Students of the Year from each Burleson Independent School campus were also recognized at the Oct. 25 luncheon.

Ben Welch, the director of the Center for Executive Development for Mays Business School at Texas A&M, was the keynote speaker.

For more information about this release, call the public information office at 817-447-5400, ext. 286.