Today, 2nd graders from Oakdale Elementary, University Place Elementary, Central Elementary, & MLK Elementary Schools filled the Central High School Auditorium. After finishing 10 weeks in the Hands on Liberty 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 Tuscaloosa 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 >
- Excited to celebrate, honor heroes, and take their pledges!
- Showing off their Helping Hands Graduation Certificate!
- These Tuscaloosa City students are excited to honor their heroes and get their Hands on Liberty graduation certificates!
- These students are excited to begin their Hands on Liberty Celebration!
- Super Citizens lead everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance.
- Central 2nd graders honor Coach Deboris Lanier as their Helping Hands Hero and Reagan tells us all the reasons why!
- Bailey Wester is honored as MLK’s Helping Hands Hero and Brayden tells us why!
- Joshua shared all about why MLK 2nd graders honored his mom, Smimeka Stewart as a Helping Hands Hero!
- School Nurse Holly Nilsson has shown MLK students what a true hero looks like, and Jordan tells us why they chose her as their Helping Hands Hero!
- Carter introduced us to Trina Holcomb, Oakdale’s Helping Hands Hero!
- MLK Principal Kiera Ezell is chosen as a Helping Hands Hero and Terrance shares all the reasons why!
- Kaleigh tells us all about why University Place chose NaTresa Crawford is chosen as a Helping Hands Hero.
- Jane Shipley is honored as a University Place Helping Hands Hero and Eva tells us all about why!
- Alani shares all about why Amber Whitcomb is honored as a University Place Helping Hands Hero.
- Dyan Palczewski-Robbins is chosen as a Helpings Hands Hero. John Silas tells us all about her!
- Super Citizens lead everyone in our tour anthem.
- We love seeing the students excited to sing along to our tour anthem!
- Students, heroes, and guests alike singing along to our tour anthem!
- These students are excited to sing along to our tour anthem!
- Only YOU can keep the “U” in the U.S.A.!
- U.S.A.!
- Singing along to our tour anthem!
- “Freedom! Liberty! It starts with you and me!”
- The students filled the room with their voices as they sang “YOU in the USA.”
- We were honored to spend the afternoon celebrating with our heroes, students, donors, administrators, and special guests. Thank you to Representative Curtis Travis, Dr. Mike Daria – Superintendent, Dr. Karen Thompson- School Board MemberJackson Dr. James Pope – Deputy Superintendent. of Teaching and Learning, Chelsea Newels – Elementary Specialist, Keith Summerford Instructional Technology Specialist & Co-lead Social Studies Curriculum, & Terri North Byrts- Director of Student Literacy for celebrating with us!
























