At St. Michael's High School, members of the National Arts Society, under the guidance of faculty advisor Heather Crow, have created a character education mural. The artists' younger counterparts at St. Michael's Elementary take short field trips to the mural and write reports on the importance of character. The school is also reproducing the individual paintings as bookmarks to be distributed by students. These students are recognized at a high school play, concert or athletic event in their district. All students throughout the county who are nominated are invited with their parents to a celebration picnic at the end of the year.
Corporate sponsors provide food, T-shirts and other incentives for students.
More than 1,000 people attend the picnic each year. The Keys also distributed free tickets to Frederick County students who are peer mediators. After every three week unit teachers select students who have displayed exemplary character. Their names are placed on a sneaker and moved along the road. Students chosen once are in the bronze area, those chosen twice are in the silver area, and those who display good character for an entire nine-week term make it to the finish.