Today, 2nd graders from Alexandria Elementary, Ohatchee Elementary, Pleasant Valley Elementary, Saks Elementary, Weaver Elementary, Wellborn Elementary, & White Plains Elementary Schools filled the Leatherwood Baptist Church. After finishing 10 weeks in the Hands on Liberty Program, they are gathered to celebrate their accomplishments and honor local heroes from the stage.
Thanks to Mr. Palmer and his very hands-on teaching, these students have begun learning about their important roles in America’s future. The “Hands on Liberty” series and accompanying activities and lesson plans teach crucial lessons in civics, character, financial literacy and social studies to a tech-centric generation. And in the closing piece of the program, Helping Hands, students are applying those crucial lessons in the real world.
Students chose heroes who embodied the traits of amazing citizens and read essays from stage before presenting them with Liberty Pins. They learned that “when you honor a hero, you become a hero!”
See heroes honored and a glimpse of the exciting event in the gallery below!
Today’s event and the donation of Super Citizen teaching kits was made possible by the Calhoun 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 >
- Super Citizens lead everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance.
- Pastor Eric Snider is honored as Ms. Johnson’s class at White Plains Helping Hands Hero and Abigail shares all about him.
- SRO Deputy Ryan Mahieu shows White Plain students what bravery and perseverance truly looks like, and that’s why Meredith honored him as Mrs. Greenwood’s class Helping Hands Hero!
- Ari honors Nurse Precious Jackson as a Weaver Elementary Helping Hands Heroes for all she does for their school community!
- SRO Deputy Seth Kirk has shown Pleasant Valley students what a true hero looks like, and Ruby tells us why they chose him as a Helping Hands Hero!
- Alexandria SRO Deputy Nick Abernathy is honored as a Helping Hands Hero by Emery, and Deputy Williams accepted on his behalf!
- Ohatchee students in Ms. Armstrongs class chose SRO Deputy DeArias Richardson as a Helping Hands Hero because of all he does in their school community. Hunter shares all about his efforts!
- Avery tells everyone why Nurse Kelly Cooper is honored as a Ohatchee Helping Hands Hero because she has shown the true meaning of what a hero looks like!
- Taylon led his friends in honoring Nurse Gwen Key as a Alexandria Elementary Helping Hands Hero!
- Berrett shares that Ohatchee Mayor Todd Eubanks is kind and helpful and this is just a couple of the reasons they chose him as a Ohatchee Helping Hands Hero.
- Ohatchee custodian Haley Lassiter is honored as a Helping Hands Hero and Cailin shares all the reasons why.
- Clara honors her preacher, Winston Harris as an Alexandria Elementary Helping Hands Hero!
- Vietnam Veteran Wilbur Pruitt is honored for his bravery and service to our country as an Alexandria Helping Hands Hero and Lucas shares all about him.
- Sullivan tells us all about the reasons he chose his preacher Rodney Gardner as an Alexandria Elementary Helping Hands Hero.why
- County Commissioner Terry Howell is chosen as an Alexandria Helping Hands Hero for all he does for their community and his grandson, Dakota shares all about him!
- Harper tells us all about why Deanna Loggins is honored as a Alexandria Helping Hands Hero!
- Aiden’s grandmother is chosen as an Alexandria Helping Hands Hero and he proudly shares all the reasons why!
- Weaver students chose Anita WIlliams as a Helping Hands Hero and Tonie tells us all about her.
- SRO Deputy Chris Williams shows Weaver students what bravery and perseverance truly looks like, and that’s why Kayden honored him as a Helping Hands Hero!
- Weaver Counselor Tracey Williams is honored as a Helping Hands Hero for all she does for her school community and Lily shares all about her!
- Preston took the mic to share all about why Saks 2nd graders choose their custodian Deborah Durant as a Helping Hands Hero.
- Taylor Price is honored as a Weaver Elementary Helping Hands Hero and Layloni tells us all about her!
- Daxon shares all about why he and his friends at Weaver chose Julie Opdycke as a Helping Hands Hero!
- Ava’s mom Dorienda Bethea is honored as a Saks Elementary Helping Hands Hero!
- Welborn student, Hadley shares all the reasons why she and her friends chose her mom, Alex Russell as a Helping Hands Hero.
- Willow tells us all the reasons why she honored Jordan Montgomery as a Welborn Helping Hands Hero!
- Welborn chose Dawn Clark as a Helping Hands Hero and Chase tells us all about her and accepted her Torch Pin on her behalf!
- Killian shares with everyone all the reasons TIm Hudson is honored as a Welborn Helping Hands Hero.
- Vietnam Veteran Douglas Steen is honored for his bravery and service to our country as a White Plains Helping Hands Hero and his grandson, Samuel shares all about him.
- Donnie Barker “PawPaw Chief” is honored as a White Plains Helping Hands Hero and his granddaughter, Ansley tells us all about him!
- Pastor Chad Pesnell is honored as a White Plains Helping Hands Hero by Creed for all he has done to show him kindness, love, and acceptance.
- Amos tells everyone all about White Plains Helping Hands Hero Mr. Gilbert!
- Super Citizens lead everyone in our tour anthem.
- Only YOU can keep the “U” in the U.S.A.!
- We love seeing the students excited to sing along to our tour anthem!
- Singing along to our tour anthem!
- These students are excited to sing along to our tour anthem!
- U.S.A.!
- Only YOU can keep the “U” in the U.S.A.!
- The students filled the room with their voices as they sang “YOU in the USA.”
- Calhoun County 2nd graders sing our tour anthem with the students!
- These students are singing our tour anthem loud and proud!
- “Freedom! Liberty! It starts with you and me!”
- Singing along to our tour anthem!
- These students are excited to sing along to our tour anthem!
- Only YOU can keep the “U” in the U.S.A.!
- U.S.A.!
- Superintendent Tony Willis congratulated his teachers and 2nd grade students for all they hard work and for becoming Super Citizens!
- We were honored to spend the morning celebrating with our heroes, students, donors, administrators, and special guests. Thank you to Superintendent Tony Willis, School Board member Michael Webb, Ohatchee Mayor Todd Eubanks, Calhoun County Commissioner Terry Howell, & Regina Norris from the central office for celebrating with us!
















































