Etowah County 5th Grade Students Become Super Citizens and Honor their Heroes at their Super Citizen Program Celebration

Today, 5th grade students from Etowah County Schools filled the Southside 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, 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 Authentic Liberty Replicas . They learned that “when you honor a hero, you become a hero!”

See the heroes honored in the photo gallery below!

Today’s event and the donation of Super Citizen teaching kits was made possible by the Etowah County Community Alliance. With their help, we are teaching, inspiring and empowering our Next Great Americans.

Become a sponsor. Power the movement.

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 >

: Superintendent Dr. Alan Cosby welcomed everyone to the Super Citizen Celebration!

: Daniel, Connor,Greyson,Coby,Sadie, and Taylor lead students, heroes, and guests in the Pledge of Allegiance

: Alex kicked off our ceremony by honoring his grandfather, Mr. Jose Luis Hernandez!

: Jonathan told us all about his class’s Torch Team Hero, Lester Boykin!

: David “DJ” Nation accepted his Torch Teams award form his daughter, Scarlett Nation!

: Clint Austin is a U.S. veteran and local entrepreneur. Jett and Jaci let us know all about how he inspires their class to be the best they can be!

: Beloved SRO Deputy Russell Shaneyfelt was honored today by Emma and Bryson!

: Keegan told us all about his father, Ben Greene: Veteran, Police Officer, Foundation Founder, and Torch Team Hero. Lauren Greene was here to accept on his behalf!

: Kallie’s class chose to honor their school’s councillor, Ms. Donette Griffith as their Torch Team Hero!

: Marley told us about her mom, Amanda Barron, and how she embodies the traits of a true Super Citizen!

: Dannie Rae told us all about her class’s Torch Team Hero: her mother, Brandi Harbison!

: Maggie took the stage to tell us about someone that supports her and her classmates: School Librarian Heather Hannah!

: Kenneth Epperson received his Torch Team Award from his great-grandson Deacon, who told us all about why Mr. Epperson is a true Super Citizen!

: Brody and Brooklyn told us all about how their hero, Roger Kimbril, inspire their class to be Super Citizens!

: Officer Corey Ottinger shows Mackenzie and Maddison’s class what a true Super Citizen looks like!

: Zane and Reese honored Josh Gilley as their class’s Torch Team Hero!

: Phillip Battles received his Torch Team honors and award from grandson John and friend Cane!

: Beloved Coach Bill Martin was honored today for the way he showed students how to be the best versions of themselves. His wife, Madelene, received this posthumous award from Fisher.

: Ayla honored her grandfather Jene Cluck’s legacy by awarding him the title of her class’s Torch Team Hero. The award was accepted by her mother, Amber Brown!

: J.T. told us all about his dad, Tyler Gilliland, and about how he deserves the honor of Torch Team Hero!

: Judy McCoy is a retired teacher, and her endless patience is only one of the reasons Amelia’s class chose her as their Torch Team Hero!

: City Councilman Danny Garnett was honored as a Torch Team Hero. His grandson Cooper told us how he inspires Cooper’s class!

: Hunter introduced us all to his class’s Torch Team Hero: his mom, Stephanie Harbin!

: Jaxon’s class chose to honor his Uncle, Vietnam Veteran Robert Moore, as their Torch Team Hero. Neice Kinya Thompson was there to accept it for him!