Gardendale Super Citizens Honor Their Torch Team Heroes

Today, more than 150 5th graders filled the gymnasium of Gardendale Elementary School. 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 civic, 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 Pearce, Bevill, Leesburg, Moore, Protective Life, and State Farm. With their help, we are teaching, inspiring and empowering our Next Great Americans.

Did you see today’s event? Were you as emotional as we were? Will you help us continue this amazing mission?

Please consider making a gift of any amount today >

: These are the faces of the Next Great Americans from Gardendale Elementary.

: Gardendale students show their excitement over honoring their heroes to day at the celebration.

: The students proudly wore shirts with the awesome sponsors listed.

: These smiling faces of Gardendale’s Super Citizens.

: These citizens show off their graduation certificates before their honor their heroes.

: The program was kicked off with the Pledge of Allegiance led by Davian, Joseph, Mary Grace and Kennedy.

: The students joined together to say the Pledge of Allegiance.

: The students joined together to say the Pledge of Allegiance.

: The Elementary Choir led everyone in a beautiful rendition of The National Anthem.

: Jonah is seen here reading about his grandfather and hero, Jimmy Camp.

: Hero Jimmy Camp and grandson Jonah are seen here posing for a picture.

: Mikayla honored Mitzi Knox as her Torch Team Hero today at the celebration.

: Kinleigh honored her Grandmother and hero, Deb Goodwin today.

: Jake honored Jerry Bailey as his Torch Team Hero today at the Super Citizen Graduation.

: Maddox honored Jeannie Whisenant as his Torch Team Hero today.

: Coach Billy Chandler was honored today as a Torch Team Hero by Kyle and his classmates.

: The students joined together to pledge that they would remember what they have learned in the Super Citizen Pledge.

: Kristen Sharp led the crowd in “YOU in the USA” with the help of the Gardendale Elementary Ambassadors: Emylee, Ariel, Ada, Arthur, Gavin, Catey, Reece, Kennedy, Karmen, Bryson and Brayden.