The Pursuit of Character is the community service platform for Miss Fountain City 2008, Jaye Herrod and through the past few years, she has devoted over 1,000 hours to character education. She will continue to put that platform before the public as she serves as the spokesperson for the City of Prattville's Youth Character Council.

The City of Prattville was designated a national City of Character over a year ago and through its Prattville/Autauga Character Coaltion, it has worked with numerous businesses and schools to promote good character traits amoung its citizens. The program focuses on 49 traits including responsibility, benevolence, trustworthiness, generosity and more.

As part of the program, the adult directed council is now ready to take it further into the schools by creating a Youth Character Council. The board will be made up of sophomore high school students who show leadership abilities and who are willing to take the program back into the schools for a student-driven program.

Jaye Herrod has stepped up as the spokesperson for the Youth Council and will conduct the introductory meeting and will meet with the group over the course of the next year to oversee their progress. Mary Beth Prichard, Prattville Autauga Character Coalition Director, said, "We are thrilled to have Jaye as our official spokesperson. She believes strongly in this concept and has worked countless hours on her own to bring the concept of character into our schools and community."

As Miss Fountain City 2008, Herrod will represent the City of Prattville at the Miss Alabama Pageant this June. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Allen Herrod of Prattville and is a full-time student at The University of Mobile, where she is pursuing a degree in music.

Miss Fountain is a preliminary to the Miss Alabama/Miss America system. To learn more about this program or Jaye Herrod, visit http://www.missfountaincity.com/. To book an appearance with Herrod for your school, church or civic group, please call 358-0297.