Today, more than 850 students 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.
“I was taken back as a former school board member, this is something we should have done a long time ago. Teaching citizenship, teaching character education, valuing members of the community… This needs to be celebrated and encouraged not only in the state of Alabama but across the nation.” – Former AL. State Representative Mack Butler
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.
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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- David, Jayeden, & Tanner lead their classmates in the Pledge of Allegiance.
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- Breley, Jaydence & Jazmine honored Ben Davis as their Torch Team Hero.
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- Prinicipal Suzanne Nance was honored as a Torch Team Hero by Trae. Mrs. Ledbetter accepted on her behalf.
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- Corbin Padgett was honored as a Torch Team Hero by Trey.
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- Tyler honored his dad Brian Ridens as his Torch Team Hero.
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- Josiah honored Joe Brothers as his Torch Team Hero.
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- Jesse & Rylee honored Lacey Entrekin as their Torch Team Hero.
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- Abby honored her Uncle Chad Mink as her Torch Team Hero.
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- Kevin Blackwell was honored as a Torch Team Hero by his daughter Sophie.
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- Shaylee honored her dad Scott Gray as her Torch Team Hero.
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- Mack Butler was honored as a Torch Team hero by Anna Grace.
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- Kylie honored her dad Samuel Love as her Torch Team Hero.
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- Addie & Heidi honored the Ivalee Fire Department as their Torch Team Heroes, Magnum Waldrop accepted the award.
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- Ethan honored Kaleb Zeringue as his Torch Team Hero.
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- Clark Thompson was honored as a Torch Team Hero by his son Noah.
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- Payton, Blake, & Hali honored Jordan McCartney as their Torch Team Hero.
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- Meleah Futral was honored as a Torch Team hero by her son Colin.
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- Jamel & Logan honored Erin Joliff as their Torch Team Hero.
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- Jay Freeman was honored as a Torch Team Hero by Yiannoula.
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- Dustin Machen was honored as a Torch Team Hero by his sister Alex and her friend. His dad accepted on his behalf.
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- Michael Callison was honored as a Torch Team Hero by his daughter Kaitlyn and her friend.
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- Drake and his friend Carson honored his Uncle Grant Crowe as their Torch Team Hero.
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- David Abbott was honored as a Torch Team Hero by his grandson Chad and his friend James.
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- Allison honored Bryson as her Torch Team Hero.
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- Toby Bayne was honored as a Torch Team Hero by his daughter Addison.
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- State Representative Craig Lipscomb congratulates the Etowah County 5th grade Super Citizens!
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- Etowah County Schools Superintendent, Dr. Alan Cosby says, Thank You to our Veterans and congratulates our Super Citizens!
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- Super Citizens lead everyone in our tour anthem.
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- U.S.A.!
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- The students filled the auditorium with their voices as they sang “YOU in the USA.”
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- Etowah County Torch Team Heroes, the students that honored them, Superintendent Dr. Cosby, Representative Lipscomb, & our friends from the Etowah Gadsden Chamber of Commerce.
