Today, 2nd graders from Greystone, South Shades Crest, Shades Mountain, & Rocky Ridge Elementary Schools filled the Hoover Performing Arts Theatre at Hoover High School. After finishing 10 weeks in the Hands on Libery 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 Jefferson 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 >
- Showing off their Helping Hands Graduation Certificate!
- These Hoover City students are excited to honor their heroes and get their Hands on Liberty graduation certificates!
- Hoover City students & teachers are excited to celebrate!
- Excited to celebrate, honor heroes, and take their pledges!
- Marlena Elliott with LLF accepts a beautiful thank you letter for Libby from this sweet friend! She promised her she would be sure to give it to her friend Libby!
- Caroline, Jude, Tenley, & Jack lead everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance.
- Amari introduced us to Nurse Felicia Motley, Greystone’s Helping Hands Hero!
- SRO Jake Strawn shows Greystone students what bravery and perseverance truly looks like, and that’s why Grace, Christian, & Emilia honored him as their Helping Hands Hero!
- Margaret tells everyone all about why they chose Greystone PTA Volunteer Michelle Bartholomew as a Helping Hands Hero for all she does for her school community!
- William tells everyone all about his mom, Kathryn Cline, and why they chose her as a Rocky Ridge Helping Hands Hero.
- Rocky Ridge second graders chose Catherine Sanford as their Helping Hands Hero! Her daughter, Haddon, tell us all about her!
- Elizabeth Hammonds is honored by Rocky Ridge 2nd graders as a Helping Hands Hero and Dalton tell us all the reasons why!
- Rocky Ridge students chose Denisha Reese as a Helping Hands Hero because of all she does in their school community and Sophie shares all about her efforts!
- Jack & Mila tell everyone why Nancy Foshee is honored as a South Shades Crest Helping Hands Hero because she has shown the true meaning of what a hero looks like!
- South Shades Crest Principal Dr. Kara Scholl is honored as a Helping Hands Hero and August shares all the reasons why!
- Jack Miller shows South Shades Crest students what bravery and perseverance truly looks like, and that’s why his daughter, Addison, honored him as a Helping Hands Hero!
- Isabelle tells everyone why she and her friends at South Shades Crest chose her mom, Christy Parker as a Helping Hands Hero!
- Emery introduces everyone to Karen Richards as a South Shades Crest Helping Hands Hero
- South Shades Crest students chose Beth Haynes as a Helping Hands Hero because of all she does in their school community. Kenny & Louie shares all about her efforts!
- Sarah Elise tells everyone all about, Nurse Elizabeth Goodman, and why they chose her as a Shades Mountain Helping Hands Hero.
- Math Coach demetria Long is honored by Shades Mountain 2nd graders as a Helping Hands Hero and Jonathan tell us all the reasons why!
- Allie Moody is honored as a Shades Mountain Helping Hands Hero. Julia & WIll tell everyone all about why they chose her!
- Super Citizens lead everyone in our tour anthem.
- Students and teachers alike singing along to our tour anthem!
- These students are excited to sing along to our tour anthem!
- “Freedom! Liberty! It starts with you and me!”
- Singing along to our tour anthem!
- We love seeing the students excited to sing along to our tour anthem!
- U.S.A.!
- The students filled the room with their voices as they sang “YOU in the USA.”
- These students are singing our tour anthem loud and proud!
- 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.”
- These students are excited to sing along to our tour anthem!
- “Freedom! Liberty! It starts with you and me!”
- Singing loud and proud!
- U.S.A.!
- We were honored to spend the morning celebrating with our heroes, students, donors, administrators, and special guests. Thank you to Assistant Superintendent’s Dr. Chris Robbins & Dr. Desiree Smith for celebrating with us!





































