Today, 2nd graders from Bear, Forest Avenue, Pintlala, Southlawn, Fitzpatrick, MacMillan, & Wares Ferry Elementary Schools filled the the Davis Theatre for the Performing Arts. 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 Montgomery County Community Aliance. 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 >
- We are thankful for our friends at CB&S Bank and for their support of this Helping Hands Celebration! Thank you to Andrea McCain, Barry Harp, and Kendall Rice for their presence this week!
- Super Citizens lead students, heroes, and guests in the Pledge of Allegiance to kick off the Celebration!
- Mae’s class at Bear Elementary honored Mr. Tony Brown as their Helping Hands Hero!
- Kennen took the mic to tell us all about Leah Davenport, Helping Hand for Bear Elementary!
- Peyton told us all about her class’s hero: substitute teacher Katelyn Sides!
- Mary Bonikowski is the Helping Hands Hero for Jaely’s 2nd grade class at Bear Elementary!
- Pari, Avi, and Dynasti from Forest Avenue Elementary honored a true hero, fireman Deandre Hartman. It was an honor to have such a Super Citizen at our Celebration!
- Pintlala 2nd grade honored Officer Daquan Woodard as a Helping Hands Hero, and Malcom told us all about him!
- Journee introduced us to her Southlawn Elementary Helping Hands Hero, principal Tamara Winston!
- Ms. Gilmore shows Zahriah and Zoey’s 2nd grade class at McMillian what a real Helping Hand looks like!
- Aubree from Wares Ferry Elementary honored her class Helping Hands Hero, Ms. Lucas!
- Quardranett Webb lends a Helping Hand every day, and that’s what makes her a hero to Channing and his class at Wares Ferry Elementary!
- Super Citizens lead everyone in our tour anthem.
- The students filled the room with their voices as they sang “YOU in the USA.”
- Only YOU can keep the “U” in the U.S.A.!
- Students, heroes, and teachers alike singing along to our tour anthem!
- These students are singing our tour anthem loud and proud!
- These students are excited to sing along to our tour anthem!
- We are thankful to our heroes, guests, and everyone who made our event possible, especially Masha Horton and Barry Harp!
- We were pleased to welcome Karen Cheeks, from the House Way and Means Education Committee, and her son Blake to our Helping Hands Celebration!



















