The Perry Community School District is being recognized for their work outside the classroom with the 2020 School of Character award, presented each year to one district by Drake University.

The recognition is part of the annual Iowa Character Awards, sponsored by Drake’s Robert D. and Billie Ray Center. Perry is this year’s recipient of the prestigious honor based on several factors, including: volunteer programs; the Veterans Day program and assembly; the contributions from 100+ People for Perry; and letters of recommendation from community members and school personnel.

Superintendent Clark Wicks explains what this means for the district, “It’s a huge honor. It’s a great honor for our high school and the work that they’ve done with the student activities department, the Blue Jay Way, homecoming, and the Veterans Day program. Mr. (Tom) Lipovac, our former activities director, was instrumental in getting us that recognition.”

The Iowa Character Awards typically host a banquet to honor the recipients but have to forgo that due to COVID-19. This is the first time an entity from Perry has won an Iowa Character Award since the awards began in 2005.