This spring we honored 72 area students for their good character. At schools and homes, our Board, our school representatives and our sponsors all came together to present these exceptional students with an award, certificate, and ‘swag bag’ of sponsor provided goodies to recognize their good nature. In addition, with sponsorship support, we were able to purchase each student a gift certificate for a local restaurant. Be sure to watch out for "A Student of Character Lives Here" star yard sign in your neighborhood!

Check out our Facebook page to see some of the honored students. Please also see the list of honorees.

Thank you to all that helped put together the celebrations, sponsored the Valley PACE Awards, the West Plains Awards and those that helped us in many other ways celebrate our PACE Awardees.

Special thanks to Avista and Dishman Dodge for their continued support as Gold Sponsors of the Spokane Valley PACE Awards.

Have a great and safe summer.

Each month, PACE provides easy ideas to stimulate family conversation and activity to explore character concepts, aligned with the character trait of the month.

Be sure to check them out here. Previous months may be found in our Tips and Tools .

Spokane County Library District has provided for young readers that highlight character - organized by grade levels for good character reading.

Be sure to check out the Spokane County Digital Library to check out books and have them delivered to your devices!

The words of Indira Gandhi ring often, and loudly, in my ears: “You can’t shake hands with a clenched fist.”

Amidst a time during which so much of what we may have once thought normal or predictable has been disrupted, and in which forces of division seem at work to pry us apart rather than bring us together, I ponder how many fists are reactively clenched.

For years, I have read and strived to follow the wisdom of Stephen Covey who directly stated, “If you want to be trusted, be trustworthy.” Can I – or anyone – trust, be trusted, and be perceived as trustworthy with hands – or heart or mind – closed?

For me, the answer is no. And I want to trust, to be trusted, and to be trustworthy. I think most with whom I share the planet want the same.

So, where to begin? With myself. With my palm open. With what I say; perhaps more importantly with what I do – my actions and behavior.

And with an understanding that what I see, what I hear, depends on..

The fire service is an industry where firefighters are the first-line problem solvers in the communities they service. We experience every emergency that occurs, in real time, with our community daily. Every vehicle collision, fire, medical issue, water rescue – any emergency call to 911 needing a Fire Department response – we’re there. In fact, every 23 minutes, over 22,000 times last year, we responded to an emergency within our community.

Why does this display courage?

Firefighters share in every painful moment our community members suffer every day of their career. It’s a “calling” that always requires a response. As first responders, we must have the continued courage to serve, again and again, shift after shift. Experiencing others worst moments, day after day, can and will eventually break us all down. However, being able to serve our community in other ways...

“Integrity is choosing courage over comfort; choosing what is right over what is fun, fast, or easy; and choosing to practice our values rather than simply professing them.” – Brené Brown

As I think about integrity, this quote is what in essence it means to me. Having a sense of purpose that you believe in is integral to live your values in a way that benefits not only your own tribe of people, but your surrounding community as well. Angela Duckworth states, “At its core, the idea of purpose is the idea that what we do matters to people other than ourselves.” Integrity is very much aligned with your core values and your purpose. This purpose is both what drives me and inspires me. It reminds me of how being in the right place at the right time – guided by the right values – is what helps us fulfill our calling in life.

What I am most proud of during my time at Central Valley is the relationships we built between...

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