Safe Streets Coalition and Topeka City of Character will be holding a press conference on March 4 at 12:00 noon at the Great Overland Station to announce the recipients of the Champion of Character award for demonstrating character that significantly improves the health, safety and quality of life in the community.

This month’s recipients of the Champion of Character Award are 15-year-old Brittney Hiegert and Connie and Steve Schoenfeld.

Brittney Hiegert noticed the flames at a construction site of Farley Elementary School building, and immediately called 911. Then she and her father drove directly to the fire department nearby to get help. Fire crews arrived within minutes and investigated. The crews were able to contain the fire quickly and prevent it from spreading. Damage was minimal according to the USD 437 website. Fire officials suspect materials used on the roof earlier in the day caught fire.

Brittney’s actions were brought to the attention of the Mayor’s Office by Delores Kenworthy. Mayor Bunten’s office forwarded the matter to Topeka City of Character so that Brittney could be recognized as a Character Champion. Mrs. Kenworthy noted that without the quick reaction and thinking by Britttney and her father, the fire could have caused a lot more damage. Brittney was recognized for the character qualities of Alertness and Decisiveness.

Connie and Steve Schoenfeld are also recognized this month. Connie was out taking a walk in the neighborhood when she found four bundles of money along side the curbing. Connie gathered up the bundles and took them home. She and her husband, Steve, discussed the find and decided the right thing to do was to bring the money to the Police Department as someone may have reported it missing or lost. The money totaled $2,261.00.

The couple was nominated by Officer Lawrence Boos of the Topeka Police Department. Officer Boos stated, “I felt that this was an honest act as this money easily could have been kept by the Scoenfeld family. Steve is a business owner of P & S car sales in North Topeka. The Schoenfelds are deserving of the award.” The Schoenfeld’s were nominated for demonstrating the character quality of Virtue, which is defined as “the moral excellence evident in my life as I consistently do what is right.”