Touring the classrooms and hallways of LHS, it is clear that a character craze has swept through the campus. The six pillars of Character Education are proudly plastered in every room and bulletin boards and display cases throughout the building proclaim the service and merit of the student body.

This increased focus on character education at LHS has been spearheaded by Character Council, led by Ryan Sherp, 10th grade principal. This group consists of selected student representatives from each school club, organization, and group.

Character Council has enacted initiatives throughout the school year to further character education. One of the most recognizable actions for the student body is Topic Time discussions that take place in fifth hour classes each month on early release days.

Topic Time discussions consist of questions and scenarios that are meant to prompt discussion of character and the pillars of character education amongst students.

"In Character Council we go into higher level thinking. We talk about the pillars of character education, but we also talk about what it means to have character, like what it means to be responsible," said Sherp.

In coming years, Character Council hopes to create more student led discussions and peer mediation.

The student initiative involved in Topic Time discussions, as well as the school decor that promotes character, contributed to the Lindbergh School District’s success in applying for national character recognition.

The District went through a thorough application process in hopes of receiving such national recognition. This entailed first creating a portfolio to represent the District, a process which in itself took approximately one year to complete.

A series of interviews and on-site visits followed as the Lindbergh District was eventually narrowed down as one of the Top 25 National Finalists.

As a finalist, Lindbergh and a school district in New York were both in the running to receive top recognition.

It was announced May 15 that the Lindbergh School District was named as a national District of Character, and Sappington Elementary School was named as a National School of Character.

The Lindbergh School District and Sappington Elementary will be officially recognized at the Fifteenth Annual Forum on National Character Education held in Washington D.C. Oct. 17-19.