Alma Schrader Elementary School receives award for character program

Alma Schrader Elementary School recently received a national award for its character programming.

The school received a promising practice award from the Character Education Partnership, a Washington, D.C., not-for-profit organization that advocates for character education.

Alma Schrader was one of 196 schools nationwide receiving the award for programming that encourages character growth. Schools in Missouri submitted the most applications and will receive the most awards, according to a news release from the partnership.

Alma Schrader received the award for its Constitution Day program, a community event in September that honors local heroes. The school has been holding the event since 2002, said school guidance counselor Julia Unnerstall.

Students invite personal heroes to be recognized at the event, which usually includes first responders, military veterans and government officials, she said.

"If I don't have people leaving needing tissues, I don't feel like I've done my job," Unnerstall said.

Students complete projects and have classroom speakers leading up to the event, which is part of the school's citizenship and character curriculum, she said. She said the award reaffirmed the efforts of the school.

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