Character Under Construction Contest Winners

Published September 2, 2010

Williamson County Schools recently revealed the winners of its 2010-2011 Character Under Construction poster contest. This annual event gives students an opportunity to show off their artistic skills while helping to promote important character traits.

Character Under Construction is the district's character education initiative. It focuses on nine words that support positive, constructive behaviors. Starting with respect in September, the words progress through responsibility, perseverance, caring, courage, citizenship, trustworthiness and cooperation. Fairness, the final word for the year, is emphasized in May. The program focuses on ways the learned behaviors can be exhibited at school, in homes and throughout the community.

Each year, Williamson County students are asked to design posters which display each of the nine character traits mentioned above. The schools then select two posters and send them to the central office where a selection committee determines the nine elementary winners and the nine winners among middle and high school students. The Character Under Construction selection committee also picks two grand prize winners, both of whom are given a free digital camera.

In addition to its poster contest, Character Under Construction also hosts an annual musical showcase. The 2010 Arts of Character Showcase: Battle of the Bands featured a number of local bands comprised of middle and high school students. Each group was given the opportunity to play a 20-minute set on the main stage at the Williamson County Fair. The bands that performed included Don't Tell Haley, Flight Republic, Red Z, The Electric Needlefish and Tristan & the Casuals.

Red Z won first place at the competition and received a free recording session at Dark Horse Studios in Franklin. Don't Tell Haley came in second followed by The Electric Needlefish in third.