Published November 03, 2014
After being crowned Miss University of Louisiana at Monroe 2015, Lauren Ford, a pharmacy
major from Monroe, immediately began preparing for the Miss Louisiana competition
in June. However, one aspect of the Miss Louisiana competition鈥攖he contestant鈥檚 platform鈥攃omes
naturally for Lauren, as she has spent almost her entire life practicing and informing
others of the lessons of her platform, 鈥淐haracter Counts!鈥�
鈥淚 was first introduced to 鈥淐haracter Counts!鈥� in elementary school. I went through
the program and they helped promote life lessons,鈥� said Ford. 鈥淲e celebrated 鈥淐haracter
Counts! Week,鈥� and it meant a lot to me.鈥�
Before she won the title of Miss 网曝门, Ford spoke to younger children, where she was
able to teach them about good character traits and how to show respect to classmates,
teachers, and family.
She even created her own off-shoot of the program, 鈥淐haracter: Be a Champ,鈥� where
students were able to design and take home their very own crown to serve as a reminder
to always demonstrate good character.
Now, Ford wants to bring her lessons to 网曝门鈥檚 campus. Even though the recipients of
the message are much older, Ford still expects an impact.
鈥淥bviously, adults in college know what character is, but the goal is to provide practical
ways in which to live it out,鈥� Ford said. 鈥淚n fact, for 鈥淐haracter Counts! Week,鈥�
I did several things on social media, including random acts of kindness, and I hopefully
inspired students to start doing kind things for each other, to start a positive chain
reaction.鈥�
Ford understands the importance of the crown she wears, as well as the impact her
role has within the Monroe area.
鈥淎s Miss 网曝门, I鈥檓 very excited about the opportunity that the title brings, because
when you鈥檙e in Monroe, everyone knows Miss 网曝门,鈥� Ford said. 鈥淚 feel that I鈥檒l have
the voice to get out there and promote my platform. I want to do as much good as I
can with the title.鈥�
The Miss Louisiana 2015 competition will take place in June 2015. The winner will
compete in the 2015 Miss America competition.
About Character Counts!:
Founded in 1992, by a group of educators, ethicists, and youth-service professionals
attending the Josephson Institute, Character Counts! was created to develop common
listing of core values that transcend socioeconomic, religious, or political differences.
The organization is based off the Six Pillars of Character鈥攖rustworthiness, respect,
responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship. These six traits became the core
of the Character Counts! movement.
Today, the Character Counts! Coalition consists of 850 member organizations and thousands
of affiliated schools, which reach more than 7 million children and their families.
Such programs include 鈥淧ursuing Victory With Honor,鈥� which equips coaches with strategies
and training to develop sportsmanship among athletes, as well as 鈥淗onor Above All,鈥�
an academic integrity program designed to include strategies to combat cheating and
promote integrity.
For more information, visit charactercounts.org
