Wow! What an amazing experience to watch a sea of 2nd, 3rd and 4th graders become outstanding American citizens right before our eyes!

Today was the final celebration of this year’s Super Citizen Program that was made possible by local sponsors Troy Bank & Trust and Liberty Learning Foundation (LLF) which orchestrates these grand events.

The 3-step process began with last fall’s kickoff when The Next Great Americans Bus Tour rolled into town and Libby Liberty™ took students on a journey through history. Then, students learned civics, character, financial literacy and social studies in the classroom – using the Super Citizen Program kit.

That brings us to today.

Students are here to receive graduation certificates, take the Super Citizen Pledge and, more importantly, to finish the final piece of the program.

“You see, it’s not enough to just get the kids excited and then teach them well,” says LLF Regional Development Director Becky Saunders. “They have to be able to apply the things they learn in the real world. That’s where Torch Teams and the Helping Hands Projects really shine.”

These two collaborative projects have students teaming up to nominate and ultimately, honor local heroes on stage. Today, they read 13 essays and present the people they look up to with Authentic Liberty Replica’s to thank them for their impact on the community.

“They also learn,” says Next Great Americans Bus Tour Manager Tawanna Vickers, “that when you honor a hero, you become a hero.”

Today was filled with fist-pumping sing-alongs, huge smiles and gratitude that went both ways. 

As heroes were brought on stage to applause, they were humbled. And they sent that gratitude right back at our Super Citizens who proved that they learned more than any textbook can teach.

 

So … who was honored today? Here’s a list but you can see them in the photo gallery below as well!

Helping Hand Heroes:
Dr. Steve Barron honored by: Luke Barron
Mrs. Tommie Lynne Hinson honored by Sydney Scott

Torch Team Heroes:
Christopher Carrol honored by: Carter Carroll
Delaney Kervin honored by: Jackson Cleveland
Billy Brown honored by: Kade Dendy
Dr. Rick Gill honored by: Phenix Griffin
Judge Wes Allen honored by: Dee Allen
Kitty Benton honored by: Abby Porter
Frank Chirico honored by: Kase Chirico
John Dorrill Jr. honored by: Anna Claire Dorrill
Michael O’Hara honored by: Kacie Bell
Jim Powell honored by: Cathy Stockstill
Curtis Shaver honored by: Abbi-Kay & Mary Michael Hussy