Character all-stars shine

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The red carpet entering Bank of America Stadium's Luxe Lobby sizzled with electricity as outstanding students from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools arrived for the second annual Carolina Panthers/Duke Energy Character All-Star Awards. The pop of camera bulbs filled the air as excited paparazzi greeted students, families and administrators upon their arrival for the evening's festivities.

The event recognized students who were nominated by their schools for exhibiting exemplary character based on the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools' nine curriculum traits: respect, responsibility, honesty, caring, justice and fairness, citizenship, courage, perseverance and hope. The finalists represented elementary, middle and high school students. Hundreds of students were nominated during the 2009-10 school year, and award recipients were voted on by a blue-ribbon selection panel.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Superintendent Dr. Peter Gorman and board of education chair Eric Davis were among the dignitaries in attendance. Manny Ohonme, the founder of Samaritan's Feet, provided an inspirational keynote address prior to the awards ceremony.

"The Carolina Panthers are pleased to team up with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and Duke Energy to recognize students that exhibit outstanding character," said Riley Fields, the Carolina Panthers director of community relations. "Our hope is these character all-stars, who lead by example, will continue to inspire and motivate their peers to adhere to the traits that are encouraged through the character education curriculum."