Today 2nd and 5th grade elementary students from Francis Marion and Robert C. Hatch came together to kick off the Super Citizen Program for 2026-2027 School Year. They waved flags, wore Statue of Liberty crowns and counted down for Libby Liberty™ to take the stage. On three huge screens “live video” shows her Next Great Americans tour pulling up to the school and then the real-life Libby walked out from behind the screens!
The lady in green brought history to life and introduced students to the 10-week civic, character, financial literacy and social studies program they will begin when her tour rolls away. She told them that they already have the most important title in the world: “CITIZEN.”
Students in multiple grades are participating in the Super Citizen Program. The younger grades are taught by an innovative civic education program starring Mr. Palmer (the hand-puppet host of the “Hands on Liberty” series).
Upper elementary grades learn from the original Super Citizen Program kit that features lessons, class activities and the emotional, unforgettable “Torch Teams” project-based learning experience. In Torch Teams, students team up, nominate, vote for and, ultimately, honor local heroes from stage at their graduation later this year. They learn that “When you honor a hero, you become a hero.”
Today’s event and the injection of civic learning is free to schools because of generous community sponsors who understand that these crucial lessons must be taught despite school time and budget constraints.
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 >
- Perry County Schools students gathered today to meet Libby Liberty™!
- Students of Perry County Schools arrive at their Super Citizen Kickoff!
- Excited to meet Libby!
- Ready to Kick Off Their Super Citizen Program!
- These students are excited to arrive at the Super Citizen Kickoff!
- All smiles from Perry County Schools students as they prepare to meet Libby Liberty™!
- Mariah and Lee lead everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance.
- Libby Liberty™ makes her entrance to reveal her true name: “Liberty Enlightening the World.”
- Libby’s mouth is 3 feet long, about the length of an electric guitar!
- Her finger is 8 feet long or about the size of an entire car!
- From the ground to the top of her torch she is about the length of a football field!
- When Libby was originally built, she was a shiny copper color just like a brand-new penny!
- Libby’s torch is what lights the way to freedom.
- Do you know what’s written on Libby’s tablet? Here’s a hint: It’s the date of American Independence!
- In the workshop, the artists worked on all the different parts of Libby!
- They put her together piece by piece, like the most gigantic Lego structure EVER!
- On October 28, 1886 they had a huge celebration to welcome Libby home to America.
- Libby invites the students to imagine what it would be like to be an immigrant traveling to Ellis Island.
- Libby shares Martin Luther King, Jr’s hope that Americans will be judged “not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.”
- We all have different American stories.
- Libby shares the iconic poem “The New Colossus.”
- Libby shows off the Liberty Learning Foundation Torch Pin that looks just like her.
- Libby shows off the Liberty Learning Foundation Heart of Liberty.
- Libby wants the students to remember 3 words: Citizen, Community, and Appreciation!
- The students filled the room with their voices as they sang “YOU in the USA.”
- We love seeing the students excited to sing along to our tour anthem!
- Waving their flags in song and celebration!
- Singing along to our tour anthem!
- These students are singing our tour anthem loud and proud!
- U.S.A.!
- Libby loves getting the students excited to sing her tour anthem!
- Libby’s helpers do a great job showing everyone the moves to “YOU in the USA!”
- Libby loves getting pictures with real-life Super Citizens and Community Leaders!
- We are so grateful to Shanna Givhan from Marion Community Bank for the continued support of our programs!
- The Next Great Americans of Perry County Schools!
- Libby Liberty™ loved meeting the students of Perry County Schools!
- Perry County Schools students are excited to begin their Super Citizen journey!
- Libby Liberty™ poses with these awesome Perry County Schools students after the kickoff!
- The Official Libby Liberty™ Selfie!






































