How we select our People of Character
         A great deal of care has gone into the selection of the people of character featured in our agendas. The 48 individuals found in our 2008-‘09 edition were chosen upon recommendations from educators and parents and through our firm’s selection process, in conjunction with the CHARACTER COUNTS! program. Many hours of discussion and research are required before our list is finalized. The individuals profiled in the agendas have been chosen solely based upon how well their lives or their individual actions represent one of the “Six Pillars of Character” and a corresponding character trait. No one is ever perfect, but we are presenting those men, women, and children whose personal strengths or particular acts of character are well documented.
People of Character to be Featured in the 2008-‘09 School Agendas
(Listed in order of appearance with their respective pillars & character traits)

Kathy Buckley

"... don't worry about what you don't have. It's about what you do have."

August - (Responsibility):

Sherry Lansing
First woman to head a major movie studio; now a full-time philanthropist Work Hard

Norman Vincent Peale
Author of book The Power of Positive Thinking Keep a Positive Outlook

Wesley Autrey
New York City construction worker who saved a stranger from being struck by a subway train Acknowledge and Meet Your Moral Obligations

Kathy Buckley
First deaf comedian in the U.S.; now uses humor to motivate others Persevere



Norman Vincent Peale

“How you think about a problem is more important than the problem itself – so always think positively.”


Sabriye Tenberken

“People tried to put limits on me, but limits always show opportunities.”

September - (Responsibility):

Joey Cheek
Olympian who donated money he received from 2006 medal wins to Right to Play, an organization helping children in poor African countries Set a Good Example

Chiaki Mukai
Japan’s first female astronaut Be Diligent

Christopher Gardner
Homeless man turned self-made millionaire; inspiration for movie The Pursuit of Happyness Take Charge of Your Own Life

Sabriye Tenberken
Young blind woman who founded a school for the blind in Tibet Be Self-Reliant


Christopher Gardner

“As long as you are going forward, baby steps count, too.”


Dr. Robert Ballard

“If you ever doubt that you will achieve your goal, put that doubt aside. Life is the act of becoming. It’s the journey that counts!”

October - (Trustworthiness):

Jason McElwain
Autistic teen who motivated his high school basketball team Be a Good Friend

Maria Teresa Leal
Founder of Coopa-Roca, a sewing cooperative in South America’s largest slumHonor Your Commitments

Dr. Robert Ballard
Deep-sea explorer who discovered Titanic’s remains and founded the JASON Project to educate students through scientific discoveryBe Dependable

Tomihiro Hoshino
Japanese gymnastics coach who, after being paralyzed in a vaulting accident, learned to paint using his mouthHave the Courage to Try New Things

Mary Ann Shadd Cary
Educator, abolitionist, and North America’s first black newspaperwomanLive By Your Principles


Mary Ann Shadd Cary

“Self-reliance is the fine road to independence.” – Motto of the Provincial Freeman, the newspaper Mary Ann Shadd Cary founded.


LaDonna Harris

“In Comanche society, the more you have, the more you’re supposed to give back.”

November - (Citizenship):

LaDonna Harris
Founder of many leading American Indian organizationsServe on Committees

Albert Einstein
Extremely influential 20th century physicistPursue the Common Good

Thurgood Marshall
Civil rights leader, lawyer, and judgeRespect Authority and Law

Al Gore
Former U.S. vice president whose work to end global warming garnered him the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize Protect The Environment


Albert Einstein

“Only a life lived for others is worth living.”


Craig Kielburger

"No matter what your gifts, no matter what your talents, kids can help change the world.”

December - (Caring):

Talia Leman
Young girl who organized a trick-or-treat campaign to raise money for Hurricane Katrina victims; UNICEF’s 2005 National Youth Ambassador Be Altruistic

Craig Kielburger

Founder of Free the Children, a non-profit human rights organizationBe Empathetic

Harriet Beecher Stowe
Author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin, a book that brought the evils of slavery to the attention of thousands worldwideBe Compassionate

Juan “Chi Chi” Rodriguez
Golfer who established an organization to help disadvantaged childrenBe Kind

John-Henry Lambin
Teen with asthma and dyslexia who founded Kids Extreme to help children succeed in spite of their disabilitiesShow Concern for Others


Talia Leman

“… you have to care about more than yourself. You have to care about everybody.”


Mukhtaran Bibi

 “… I will go on until I have even the slightest hope of justice.”

January - (Fairness):

Mukhtaran Bibi
Pakistani woman who, after being brutally abused by a group of men, courageously spoke out against her attackers; now works to end the oppression of Pakistani womenJustice

Dr. Aida Giachello
Selected by Time in 2005 as one of America’s most influential Hispanics for her work to ensure minorities receive quality health care Be Fair

David Risling
The “Father of Indian Education;” dedicated his life to ensuring American Indians were educated about their cultural historyGet the Facts

Irene Natividad
The first Asian American to lead a national political organization and a key leader in the promotion of women and Asian AmericansListen to People


Irene Natividad

“It isn’t enough for us to envision change; we have to see ourselves as the agents of change.”


Dr. Govindappa Venkataswamy

“Intelligence and capability are not enough. There must be the joy of doing something beautiful.”

February - (Respect):

John Jordan “Buck” O’Neil
A well-respected ambassador for America’s Negro League Baseball; the first black major league coachBe Polite to Everyone

Erin Gruwell
California teacher who became the subject of the movie Freedom WritersTolerance

Dr. Govindappa Venkataswamy
Surgeon in India whose hospital restores vision to impoverished peopleRespect the Dignity of All Individuals

Yitzhak Rabin
Former prime minister of Israel and recipient of the 1994 Nobel Peace PrizeResolve Disagreements Peacefully


John Jordan "Buck" O'Neil

“… he has brought … light out of bitterness and despair … He knows he can go further with generosity and kindness than with anger and hate.” – Ken Burns, “Baseball” documentary producer, in foreword to O’Neil’s autobiography, I Was Right on Time


Eleanor Roosevelt

“… the peace and security of mankind are dependent on mutual respect for the rights and freedoms of all.”

March - (Respect):

Eleanor Roosevelt
Former first lady who advocated for the rights of women, the poor, minorities, and the disadvantagedValue All People

Joseph Montoya
Former U.S. senator who advanced the civil rights of Mexican Americans like himself Respect the Freedom of All Individuals

Elaine L. Chao
The first Asian American woman in U.S. history to be appointed to a president’s cabinet when she was named secretary of labor in 2001Treat Others the Way You Want to be Treated

Martin Waukazoo
Native American Health Center CEO; strives to give all American Indians quality health careAcceptance


Martin Waukazoo

“Young people have an enormous responsibility and an opportunity to change people’s lives."


Fred Korematsu

“If you have the feeling that something is wrong, don’t be afraid to speak up.”

April - (Trustworthiness):

Elizabeth Glaser
Founder of the Pediatric Aids FoundationBe Candid

Fred Korematsu
Ordinary man who became a civil rights hero by refusing to go to WWII Japanese American interment campsHave the Courage to Do What is Right

Virginia Hamilton
Author who used her African American and American Indian heritage to break ground in giving minority children positive characters to whom they could relateLoyalty

Jacques Cousteau
Famous undersea explorer who was devoted to educating people on the plight of the world’s oceansFollow Your Conscience

Ed Bradley
Highly respected and trusted broadcast journalistBe Sincere


Jacques Cousteau

“The real cure for our environmental problems is to understand that our job is to salvage Mother Nature.”


Suzie Tipton

“There are people out there who really need your idea. I started out with a little idea, and it’s become huge.”

May - (Caring):

Dr. Feng Shan Ho
Chinese diplomat who risked his life to save thousands of Jews during the HolocaustHelp People in Need

Sarah McLachlan
Singer/songwriter whose Lilith Fair music festival raised millions for charity Give Support to Make Someone Else’s Life Better

Wayne Miller

Vietnam War veteran who counsels other veterans and serves as an inspiration to those like himself who participate in the National Veterans Wheelchair GamesBe Thankful

Suzie Tipton
Young girl with cerebral palsy who created “Suzie’s Closet” to help children such as herself acquire the medical equipment they needBe Considerate


Dr. Feng Shan Ho

“I thought it only natural to feel compassion and want to help. From the standpoint of humanity, that is the way it should be.”


Andre Agassi

“… you have to give a child a chance to make better choices for themselves.”

June - (Fairness) - (Citizenship):

Wynton Marsalis

Award-winning jazz musician who donates much of his time to charitable causesBe Open-Minded

Andre Agassi
Retired professional tennis player who established a charitable foundation to benefit underprivileged childrenHelp Your Community Be Better

Sandra Begay-Campbell
American Indian who helps tribes develop renewable energyBe Impartial

Melissa Poe
Young woman who established the organization Kids for a Clean Environment when she was just nine years oldReduce Pollution

Américo Paredes
Influential scholar who advanced Mexican American studies at the university levelMake Decisions Without Prejudice


Melissa Poe

“Don’t limit yourself because you think you lack something. Just start with doing something small. Small things add up.”

Individuals can be nominated for inclusion in a future edition of the CHARACTER COUNTS! School Agendas.
Click Here to nominate a person of character.

Artwork by Ed Coutts, Anthony Cacioppo, and James E. Lyle (Kaso Comics, Inc.)


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