ANDERSON — When Hillery Shepherd heard of a younger girl suffering from burns, the third-grader decided to take action.

She helped organize a hat day fundraiser at Killbuck Elementary School. Her efforts earned her the inaugural Character Counts Student of the Month Award. The honor is to be given out by the Anderson Police and Fire departments.

On April 24, students, faculty and staff wore their favorite hat to school. They paid for the privilege and raised $905 for the burn victim’s family.

“She takes everything to heart and she truly cares about others and worries about them,” said her mother, Amy, who is a third-grade teacher at Killbuck.

A preschool student had burned herself with hot coffee at her grandmother’s home, Shepherd said. The girl was at Riley Hospital for Children when Hillery Shepherd heard about it.

Anyone can make a nomination for the Character Counts award, said Anderson Police Department spokesman Mitch Carroll. The award is open to all elementary and middle school students. Nominees should be submitted to Carroll at 648-6760 or mcarroll@cityofanderson.com.

The Character Counts award had been considered for nearly eight years but just recently was initiated. The departments will recognize a student for actions that define one of the six pillars of character that include trustworthiness, responsibility, respect, fairness, caring and citizenship.

Shepherd was nominated by Killbuck Principal Judy Ketring for her emphasis on caring. Winners receive a T-shirt and medal.