Today, more than 475 students filled the Russellville High School Auditorium. After finishing 10 weeks in the Super Citizen Program, they are gathered to celebrate their accomplishments and honor local heroes from the stage.
These students have learned their important roles in America’s future thanks to an immersive experience in civics, 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!”
Alabama State Representative Jamie Kiel was honored at the event.
ALFA Insurance Agent Laura Horton’s son was one of the students who read their essay onstage during the event, she said, “He is not one to get up onstage and read, so that was huge for him to take that step.”
Alabama State Representative Jamie Kiel was one of the heroes honored at the event. “It was a great moment for me to know that people appreciate what I do in Montgomery,” said Representative Kiel.
“We are test-driven now in the classroom, we are so focused on reading, math, science, but something else is missing in the civics component and being a good citizen. So I am super happy that we are able to get that back in the classroom.”
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 Franklin 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 >
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- These Super Citizens lead their classmates in the Pledge of Allegiance.
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- Penny Pickett was honored as a Helping Hands Hero by Ruby.
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- Victor honored Jennifer & Andy Kastbert as his Helping Hands Heroes
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- Laura Horton with Alfa Insurance was honored as a Helping Hands Hero by her son Case.
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- Braylen honored his dad Captain Neil Willis as his Helping Hands Hero.
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- Flight Nurse Laura Kroeger was honored as a Helping Hands Hero by her son Crews.
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- Brenleigh honored Brody as a Helping Hands Hero.
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- Officer Craig Bullion was honored as a Helping Hands Hero by his son Blayze.
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- Katelyn honored Brenda Boyles as her Helping Hands Hero.
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- State Representative Jamie Kiel was honored as a Helping Hands Hero by Bayleigh
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- School Counselor Amy McReynolds was honored as a Helping Hands Hero by Emme
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- Britney honored the Future Dreamers as her Torch Team Heroes.
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- Priscilla Davis was honored as a Torch Team Hero by Zoe.
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- Micaela honored Monica Farris as a Torch Team Hero.
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- Collins honored Lety Pascual as her Torch Team Hero.
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- Brenda Oliver was honored as a Torch Team Hero by Kaden.
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- Paxton honored Bill Foster as his Torch Team Hero.
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- Ridge honored Chase Sparks as his Torch Team Hero and Ashley grabbed a picture with Ridge after his speech!
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- Loretta Hatton was honored as a Torch Team Hero by Dixie.
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- Avery honored Bronner as a Torch Team Hero.
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- 2nd graders take their Helping Hands Pledge!
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- 3rd graders stand together to take their Super Citizens Pledge
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- Super Citizens help Ashley lead everyone in our tour anthem.
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- Only YOU can keep the “U” in the U.S.A.!
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- The students filled the auditorium with their voices as they sang “YOU in the USA.”
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- 2019-20 Russellville City Helping Hands & Torch Team Heroes, along with the students that honored them!
