Today about 200 elementary students from Madison County and Mt. Carmel Elementary Schools came together to kick off the Super Citizen Program for 2018. 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 bus pulling up to the school, her exiting the bus 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 bus 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” DVD series). Upper elementary grades learn from the original Super Citizen Program kit that features DVD-based 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 >
- The students are excited to meet Libby Liberty™.
- These students are starting their Super Citizen journey.
- Blaine and Lilly lead the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance.
- Her official name is Liberty Enlightening the World.
- Ashlyn and Anna help Libby show off her true measurements.
- Her skin is made of copper and only about two pennies thick.
- The chains around her feet are broken to symbolize freedom from oppression.
- Libby asks the students to close their eyes and imagine they are on a long, hard journey.
- The students close their eyes and picture coming to America for the first time.
- “We may have all come on different ships but we are in the same boat now.” MLK Jr.
- Libby shares the iconic poem “The New Colossus”.
- A big thank you to our incredible community sponsors who make the Super Citizen program happen.
- “Only you can keep the YOU in the USA”.
- Sophie, Marissa, Olivia, Autumn, Kayla and Ellie help lead the tour anthem “YOU in the USA”.
- The students get loud for liberty and freedom.
- WWII Veterans: Major Wooten and Harold McMuran stand with Libby Liberty™.
- Brandy Brannon Smith of Renasant Bank gets a picture with Libby Liberty™.
- The Next Great Americans
- Our future Super Citizens
- The Next Great Americans
- Our future Super Citizens
- The Next Great Americans
- Our future Super Citizens
- Stephanie Bastiaans of Lockheed Martin gets a picture with Libby Liberty™.
- The Next Great Americans
- Our future Super Citizens
- The Next Great Americans
- Our future Super Citizens
- The Next Great Americans
- Our future Super Citizens
- The official Libby Liberty™ selfie