October 2003, National School of Character Award was presented to Walnut Middle School, Grand Island, Nebraska, the only middle school in the nation to receive this prestigious award.  Each year, Character Education Partnership (CEP) selects schools and districts from across the country that demonstrates outstanding and successful character education initiatives. The CEP is a nonpartisan coalition of organizations and individuals dedicated to developing moral character and civic virtue in our nation’s youth as one means of creating a more compassionate and responsible society.  The 2003 National Schools of Character Award was presented to Walnut Middle School in Washington, D.C. in October, 2003. Ten schools (K-12) in the nation were honored with this award. Walnut Middle School was the only middle school to be selected.