Starting in January, Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools is honoring four students each month for making their school a better place. That month, the students were chosen for intellectual character. Alexa Cooper, a first-grader at Smithfield Elementary, was chosen for the way she assists her peers and does the right thing. She hopes to be a teacher one day.

Drell Heath, a fifth-grader at Joseph W. Grier Academy, recently started an anti-bullying club. Under Drell’s leadership, he and four peers developed a plan to speak up for victims of bullying and to educate peers who bully about why bullying is bad.

James Hoover, a seventh-grader at Ridge Road Middle, was nominated for the way he continually reaches out to others and tries to raise awareness at his school for topics of national concern, like obesity. James serves as a school guide for new students, works on the broadcast team and started a health question of the week.

Johnathan Rosales, a 12th-grader at Vance High, moved to the United States when he was 7, from Guatemala. Despite learning English as a second language, Johnathan excelled quickly. He is involved with International Club, Environmental Club, Drama Club, Chess Club, National Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society. He is an ambassador for the school and takes new students on tours, especially helping with non-English speaking students.