The Lindbergh School District and Sappington Elementary School are 2008 National Schools of Character finalists.

“Finalists have undergone a rigorous application process that demonstrates their work with the ethical, social and academic growth of their students through effective character education,” according to the Character Education Partnership, or CEP.

A team of CEP evaluators will visit the Lindbergh School District and Sappington Elementary in April.

CEP, the nation’s leading advocate for quality character education initiatives, selected 25 finalists from 149 applicants from across the United States. Ten winners of the National School of Character Award will be announced in late May.

Should Sappington Elementary or the Lindbergh School District be selected as a National School or District of Character, the award, national recognition and a grant of $20,000 will be presented at CEP’s 15th National Forum on Character Education, “Character is Destiny,” in October.

“Sappington is excited to be recognized for our dedication to character education,” Sappington Elementary School Principal Mary Hogan stated in a news release. “Our students value the importance of character and our staff promotes the core character values our students embrace.”

Amy Richards, Lindbergh’s character education coordinator, stated, “We look forward to showing our national visitors that character education is not just a few words on the wall or a few isolated activities, but rather an established way in which we all live and learn in the Lindbergh School District.”