Kiersten Rickard wins FCE’s Character Counts essay contest for 4th graders

Kiersten Rickard was selected the winner of this year’s Character Counts Essay and Artwork contest sponsored by the Dickson County Family and Community Education Clubs. The annual contest is part of the celebration of National Character Counts Week, which was Oct. 21-27. The theme for this year’s contest was trustworthiness, one of the six pillars of the program. The contest was open to all Dickson County fourth graders and received 439 entries. A student at Oakmont Elementary School, Rickard received a $50 U.S. savings bond and her entry will advance to the state contest next year. Seth Creasy of Stuart-Burns Elementary placed second and won $15. Gracee Carter of Dickson Elementary won $10 for finishing third. Honorable mentions include Mason Herbert of The Discovery School, and Mackenzie Lopez of Vanleer Elementary

FIRST PLACE

Kiersten Rickard

Oakmont Elementary School

Trustworthiness can form in different ways. One is always being honest. If you are always honest, you can find more friends and have more relationships. This is very important. Another way to be trustworthy is to do what you say you’ll do. It’s like making a deal. If you make a deal just like you being honest and saying you will do something. This one is very important, do what is right. If you do what is right you will not end up in places you don’t want to be stuck in. Trustworthiness can be very important in life.

SECOND PLACE

Seth Creasy

Stuart-Burns Elementary School

If you want people to trust you, you need to trust them. If you lie you are not being trustworthy and if you tell the truth you are being trustworthy. If someone asks you to do them a favor and you say you will do it, do it. Never steal from someone and if you do, tell them the truth. An example of someone being trustworthy is breaking a window and telling them you did it. That is being trustworthy. There are different meanings of trustworthiness, but this is what it means to me.

THIRD PLACE

Gracee Carter

Dickson Elementary School

Trustworthiness means someone can depend on you. You have their trust, and you can keep secrets, or promises. You are honest and loyal. If your friend is telling you a secret, then she tells you not to tell anyone, and you don’t, you are bring trustworthy. Trustworthiness means you are worthy of their trust.