Several fifth graders who gathered at the Orangeburg County Community of Character initiative's 10th annual Outstanding Character Recognition Program are using the Golden Rule as their ethical touchstone. More than 1,200 fifth graders converged at Claflin University's Jonas T. Kennedy Health and Physical Education Center, where a student from each of Orangeburg County's 17 elementary schools was honored for their winning essay on a character trait.

Many of the students said the annual recognition program challenges them to be better stewards of good character, which they said involves helping others to feel better about themselves. "Good character means being nice and helping others. If they just have a hard time, or they're having a hard time with their family, go up and help and try to make them feel better," said Zack Amerson, a 12-year-old at Bethune- Bowman Elementary School.

Amerson said he tries to be his own example of good character. The program teaches him new things that help build his character, he said. "One time this kid was feeling down because his parents were arguing. He didn't like it so much, so I just went over and cheered him up and made him feel better about himself," he said.

Amerson said his classmate, 10-year-old Ivyaun Williams, is another example of good character. "She's nice and always knows what to do. She's smart and knows how to make people feel better," he said. Williams said, "Showing good character means that you have to be nice to others, have good behavior and treat others the way you'd want to be treated. I've seen some people in my class like Brian Murry and others that show good character as well." "Brian helps people out when people need their work done. When stuff goes down and people say something bad to him, he just pushes it off

his shoulders like it isn't nothing," she said. "My mother, father, grandparents, cousins and great-grandparents all show good character, too. When I need help, they help me." Marshall Elementary students William Ancrum, 10, and Jessica Baxter, 11, agreed that good character includes extending a helping hand to others.

"Good character is something where you help people and just make them feel good. When you do that, you feel good about yourself," Ancrum said, noting that his brother, Milton, is his role model for good character. "When he doesn't feel like doing stuff with me, he does it anyway," Ancrum said.

Baxter said a person with good character doesn't complain about doing things to help others. "They do it because of the kindness in their heart. I'd say my teacher shows good character because when we have misbehavior in our class, she really doesn't fuss. She just keeps going. She keeps on course," Baxter said.

The fifth graders received a powerful message on the importance of demonstrating good character from Mike Ayers, head football coach at Wofford University in Spartanburg. Ayers said he refused to let a troubled early life at the hands of alcoholic parents define who he came to be. He said he had to choose his own destiny and make the right choices.

"It does not matter what has happened in the past. What matters will be the choices of the future. If you do your best, you will get the best. I don't care what your zip code is," Ayers said.

The 63-year-old said his high school guidance counselor motivated him to do more with his life when she told him that while he was a good kid, he was not smart enough for college. "She lit a fire in my belly. I was going to show her that she was wrong," he said. Ayers wasn't able, however, to maintain a successful college football career and a successful academic record. He got kicked out of college and entered the Marine Corps before ultimately working as a sanitation worker. He said while he was ridiculed for what he was doing, even being shot by a kid with a pellet gun because he was "only a garbage man," he remained undeterred.

"All he saw was on the outside, but he didn't see the inside," Ayers said. He told the students, "Don't take a label. Be a difference maker. The one you need to start with is you. Your destiny is not decided until you decide it."

OCCOC Executive Director Don Tribble said he has been pleased with the growth of the recognition program, which he said serves to foster good character early on. "We're trying to get them early so we don't lose ground as they get older," Tribble said.

Character essay winners for Orangeburg Consolidated School District Three were Carnya Sutton, Elloree Elementary; Hunter Bradshaw, Holly Hill Elementary; Shyann Bake, St. James-Gaillard Elementary and Brienna Williams, Vance-Providence Elementary.

OCSD 4 winners were Jae'lyn Ross, Edisto Elementary; Michael Yon, Hunter-Kinard-Tyler Elementary and Josh Fraizer, Lockett Elementary.

Winners from OCSD 5 were Antonio Pou, Dover Elementary; Briennah Murray, Bethune-Bowman Elementary; Savon Stokes, Brookdale Elementary; Mika Hinzman, Marshall Elementary; Aleisha Argrow, Mellichamp Elementary; Aba'Breionna Dash, Rivelon Elementary; Yasmire Evans, Sheridan Elementary; and Brandon Grant, Whittaker Elementary. Other winners were Dominique Bartley from Felton Laboratory School and Amber White from Orangeburg Preparatory School.

larry hardy/t&d