One hundred fifth graders from Horizon Elementary School gathered to receive graduation certificates and finish the final piece of their 10-week Super Citizen Program made possible by a donation from Madison Co. Commission, Jane K. Lowe Foundation and Belk Huntsville.

In addition to intensive learning in civics, character, financial literacy, careers and social studies, students brought their learning full-circle with the service / project-based learning exercise called “Torch Teams.”

Classes teamed up to nominate, vote for and honor local heroes from the stage at today’s event. “It’s the most gratifying piece of the program,” says Liberty Learning Founder Patti Yancey. “We know students learn the lessons because of our pre and post testing. But this is when that learning takes on a life of its own.”

Yancey went on to explain that the Super Citizen Program is a “powerful infusion” of civics, character, financial literacy and social studies that was created to “help educators combat the shrinking sliver of time left in the classroom for these crucial subjects.”

Today, students sang, took the Super Citizen Pledge (that made the hair stand up on the back of our necks) and honored Leanne McGee with a Liberty Replica. After reading 14 poems about their hero, it was easy to see the profound impact their growth is having on their lives, in the school and in the larger community. They chose to honor a hero who helps … who is a hard worker in the school. Who “always has a smile and an unlimited amount of patience.” 

“When they realize that heroes don’t have to be football players or pop stars,” says Yancey, “it’s the essence of what we want our citizens to know. When you honor a hero, you become a hero.”