Today, 2nd graders from Pelham Oaks & Pelham Ridge Elementary Schools filled the Pelham Oaks Elementary School Cafeteria. 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 Shelby 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 >
- Showing off their Helping Hands Graduation Certificate!
- These Pelham City students are excited to honor their heroes and get their Hands on Liberty graduation certificates!
- Excited to celebrate, honor heroes, and take their pledges!
- Pelham City students are getting ready to honor their heroes!
- Grayson & CJ lead everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance.
- Officer Jordan Warren has shown Pelham Oaks students what a true hero looks like, and his son, Walker tells us why they chose him as Ms Leonard’s Class Helping Hands Hero!
- Abel & Collier tell everyone all about Katie Hamrick and why they chose her as Mrs. Thrasher’s Class as Pelham Oaks Helping Hands Hero.
- Efrain & Hudson took the mic to tell us all about why they chose Sam Banks as Ms. Jones’ Class at Pelham Oaks Helping Hands Hero!
- Ms. Lib & Mrs.. Dove’s Classes at Pelham Oaks chose Franny Rothe as a Helping Hands Hero and Faye & Liam share all they reasons why!
- SRO Mark Volz shows Pelham Oaks students what bravery and perseverance truly looks like, and that’s why Kenndi & Luvlynn honored him as Mrs. Chambers’ class Helping Hands Hero!
- Aubrey in Mrs. Cournoyer’s Class at Pelham Ridge shares all the reasons she and her friend chose her mom, Brittney Woodley as a Helping Hands Hero.
- Finley takes the mic to tell about Mrs. Taylors class Helping Hero, Molly Sears
- Pelham Ridge School Registrar, Maritza Torres is honored as a Helping Hands Hero for Mrs. Jacks’ class and Lua & Caleb tell us all about her!
- Ms. Goolsby’s class at Pelham Ridge chose to honor Laura Crew & Melissa Sadberry as their Helping Hands Heroes. Kaliyah, Rhyleigh, & Laikyn tells us about them.
- Pelham Ridge School Counselor,Emily Hoffman is honored as Mrs. Ritchie’s class Helping Hand Hero and Carmen shares all the reasons why.
- Kasey Bosworth & Lyndsay Anderson are honored as Mrs. Richard’s class at Pelham Ridge Helping Hands Heros. Christina & Alexander take the mic and share all about them!
- Super Citizens lead everyone in our tour anthem.
- Pelham City 2nd graders sing our tour anthem with the students!
- 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!
- These students are singing our tour anthem loud and proud!
- Waving their flags in song and celebration!
- These students are excited to sing along to our tour anthem!
- Students, heroes, and guests alike singing along to our tour anthem!
- U.S.A.!
- U.S.A.!
- Pelham City 2nd graders sing our tour anthem with the students!
- The students filled the room with their voices as they sang “YOU in the USA.”
- These students are singing our tour anthem loud and proud!
- Singing loud and proud!
- Only YOU can keep the “U” in the U.S.A.!
- We were honored to spend the morning celebrating with our heroes, students, donors, administrators, and special guests. Thank you to Representative Kenneth Paschal, Pelham Mayor Rick Wash, Superintendent Dr. Keri Johnson, Leon Johnson & Sharon Gaydon with Cahaba Elks Lodge, Ashley McCollough with Alabaster Pelham Rotary Club, Melissa Leverett from Pelham Strong, and all our administrators for celebrating with us!
- We are so grateful for our friends from Cahaba Elks Lodge – Leon Johnston & Sharon Gaydon
- Thank you, Representative Paschal, Mayor Wash, & Dr. Keri Johnson for their presence today!
- Thank you, Mayor Wash for supporting Pelham City students!
- We are thankful for our friend, Ashley McCullough with the Rotary for being there today!



































