Today, 450 students filled the Russellville High School Auditorium. After finishing 10 weeks in the Super Citizen Program, they are gathered to celebrate their accomplishments and honor local heroes from the stage.
These students have learned their important roles in America’s future thanks to an immersive experience in civics, character, financial literacy and social studies. And in the closing piece of the program, Torch Teams (or “Helping Hands” for the younger students), students are applying those crucial lessons in the real world. They chose heroes who embodied the traits of amazing citizens and read essays from stage before presenting them with Authentic Liberty Replicas & Liberty Pins. They learned that “when you honor a hero, you become a hero!”
School board member, and educator for 37 years, Judy Pounders was honored as a hero today. She talked about what she witnessed in the event. “I’m so proud that we’re taking time to teach the very important trait of being a good citizen … treating each other right, taking responsibility for your own behavior, not blaming others, taking responsibility for your fellow man. It has far reaching effects. Good citizenship needs to be revived.” Pounders went on to thank sponsors for making the program possible in schools. “It’s the greatest investment and the greatest return you’ll ever see,” she said.
See the Torch Teams & Helping Hands Heroes honored today in the photo gallery below!
Today’s event and the donation of Super Citizen teaching kits was made possible by the Franklin County Community Alliance. With their help, we are teaching, inspiring and empowering our Next Great Americans.
Were you at the event? See the photo gallery below to find yourself, to revisit the magic or watch it unfold for the first time >
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- Sawyer, Xzaiver, Drake, Elisco, & Erin lead their classmates in the Pledge of Allegiance.
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- Jeremy Campbell was honored as a Helping Hands Hero by his son, Asher and his classmates.
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- Case and his class honored Becky Quaintance as his Helping Hands Hero.
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- Officer Brian Shackelford was honored as a Helping Hands Hero by his son, Cade and his classmates.
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- Ridge and his class honored Jimmy Green as a Helping Hands Hero.
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- LeJoy Winston was honored as a Helping Hands Hero by Ashley and her class.
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- Judge Paula McDowell was honored as a Helping Hands Hero by Karen and her class.
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- Shaler and his class honored Andy Devaney as their Helping Hands Hero.
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- Margaret Sharpley was honored as a Helping Hands Hero by Cade and his class.
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- Kiptyn and his friend Sarah Beth honored his mom, Jackie Daily as their Helping Hands Hero.
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- Sam and his class honored his dad, Jason Goodwin as their Helping Hands Hero.
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- Lanny McAllister was honored as a Torch Team Hero by Abrianna and her class. His wife Gayle accepted on his behalf.
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- Grace and her class honored Gayle McAllister as their Torch Team Hero.
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- Siran Winston was honored as a Torch Team Hero by Karson and her class. Emily steps in for a picture in his absence.
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- Judy Pounders was honored as a Torch Team Hero by Taitum and her class.
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- Rocky Stone was honored as a Torch Team Hero by Ximena and her class.
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- Bronner and his class honor Bradley Bohannon as their Torch Team Hero.
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- Gregg Trapp is honored as a Torch Team Hero by his granddaughter, Alexa and her class.
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- Denise Wilson was honored as Torch Team Hero by Kyla and her class.
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- This student proudly takes his Helping Hands Pledge.
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- Thank you to our amazing sponsors!
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- These Super Citizens take their Super Citizen Pledge!
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- These Super Citizens lead everyone in our tour anthem!
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- The students filled the auditorium with their voices as they sang “YOU in the USA.”
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- Only YOU can keep the “U” in the U.S.A.!
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- Russellville Helping Hands & Torch Team Heroes along with the students that honored them!
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- Thank you, Melissa & Jamie Kiel for supporting these 2nd & 3rd graders!
