Mulkey Elementary School 2nd & 5th Grade Super Citizens Honor Local Heroes (2017)

Today, more than 250 2nd & 5th grade students filled the auditorium. After finishing 10 weeks in the Super Citizen Program, they are gathered to celebrate their accomplishments and honor local heroes from the stage.

Geneva Mayor Frankie Lindsey, who was one of thirty-two heroes honored in today’s event, says, “This type of program is fantastic! I hope they have it all over the United States. The enthusiasm that I saw here today is unbelievable.” Ed Scott, Senior Pastor at First Baptist Church of Geneva was also honored. “I love the line in the [Super Citizen] Pledge that says ‘I will defend what is right. I will defeat what is wrong,'” he says. “They’ve heard that now and are committed to it.”

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 (or “Helping Hands” for the younger students), students are applying those crucial lessons in the real world. They chose heroes who embodied the traits of amazing citizens and read essays from stage before presenting them with Authentic Liberty Replicas & Liberty Pins. They learned that “when you honor a hero, you become a hero!”

Geneva County Sheriff Tony Helms, also honored today, reiterates, “This is what we need all of our children to be learning. I hope they come away with a sense of pride in our country and a sense of responsibility of what they have to look forward to … what is going to be their legacy. These are our future leaders, these are the people we hope carry on our legacy.”

See the Torch Teams & Helping Hands Heroes honored today in the photo gallery below!

Today’s event and the donation of Super Citizen teaching kits was made possible by the Geneva County Community Alliance and passionate community sponsors. Sheriff Helms says, “I’m glad there are people like them who have the foresight to see how necessary and important the program is, and I appreciate them very much.” 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?

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: Mulky Elementary Fifth Graders are excited to graduate as Super Citizens!

: Mulkey Elementary Second graders can’t wait for graduation!

: Kingston, Morgan, Cameron, Jase lead the Pledge of Allegiance.

: Pepper Mock was honored as Helping Hands Hero by his son Trevor.

: Sawyer honored her step-mother Vivian Simmons as Helping Hands Hero.

: Tony Clemmons was honored by his daughter Alyssa as Helping Hands Hero.

: Melissa Casey was honored as Helping Hands Hero by Grant.

: Aara honored her uncle Charlie Ciccareli as Helping Hands Hero.

: Les Sanders was honored by his son Luke as Helping Hands Hero.

: Jaden honored her dad Sergeant Chris Braswell as Helping Hands Hero.

: Seth Brown was honored as Helping Hands Hero by his son Titus.

: Kierston honored Jenny Bynum as Helping Hands Hero.

: Amy Conner was honored by her daughter Baylee as Helping Hands Hero.

: Patrick honored David Hayes as Helping Hands Hero.

: Russell honored his father Michael Demmer as Helping Hands Hero.

: Ivey honored nurse Missy Brownelle as Torch Team Hero.

: Jack honored his father Dr. John Simmons, Jr. as Torch Team Hero.

: Karlee honored Samantha Bilbrey, school secretary, as Torch Team Hero.

: State Representative Donnie Chesteen was honored as Torch Team Hero by Ally. Kelli Dodd from the Liberty Learning Foundation accepted on his behalf.