Today second graders from Chelsea Park and Forest Oaks Elementary Schools cheered and counted down to the grand entrance of Libby Liberty™. Wearing green paper crowns and waving tiny American flags, they showed their enthusiasm for the Super Citizen Program they’ll begin after today’s theatrical performance.
Liberty Learning Foundation (with generous sponsorship by the Shelby County Community Alliance) is kicking off the program in a big way. Not only are students watching as the vivacious Statue of Liberty character brings history to life, they are also being introduced to the man who will give them a “hand” with lessons back in their classrooms. As Libby winds down, she hands the screen over to Mr. Palmer, a brash and brilliant hand-character who leads students in DVD-based lessons in civics, character, financial literacy and our Great American Story.
After class photos with Libby, students and teachers return to classrooms energized to learn crucial, all-American lessons. They’ll also begin the process of nominating and honoring “Helping Hands Heroes” who they will honor at their graduation celebration when the program is complete for this year.
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 >
- Londyn and Loriann lead everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance.
- Libby Liberty™ makes her entrance to reveal her true name: “Liberty Enlightening the World.”
- From the ground to the top of her torch she is about the length of a football field!
- The seven rays, or spikes, represent the seven seas, and the seven continents of the world!
- When Libby was originally built, she was a shiny copper color just like a brand-new penny! She developed a greenish patina through a process called oxidation.
- In the workshop, the artists worked on all the different parts of Libby!
- They put her together like a Minecraft Figure!
- They put her together piece by piece, like the most gigantic Lego structure EVER!
- Libby exclaims that on October 28, 1886, America had a huge celebration to welcome her home!
- Auguste Bartholdi gifted Libby to the United States of America to celebrate our 100th birthday!.
- Ellis Island is right next to Liberty Island, which is where Libby lives.
- Libby invites the students to imagine what it would be like to be an immigrant traveling to Ellis Island.
- We all have different American stories.
- Libby shares Martin Luther King, Jr’s hope that Americans will be judged “not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.”
- We all share in the same bright future that is possible because of the ideals for which Libby stands.
- Libby shares the iconic poem “The New Colossus.”
- Libby shares all about the exciting Super Citizen Program the students are about to begin!
- Libby shows off the Liberty Learning Foundation Torch Pin that looks just like her.
- She symbolizes the American Dream!
- Libby tells the students about an important word they will learn more about during their program: Appreciation!
- Libby leads the students in showing their appreciation for everyone who made the event possible!
- You ARE The Next Great Americans!
- Libby’s helpers do a great job showing everyone the moves to “YOU in the USA!”
- Libby loves having Super Citizens singing along to her tour anthem!
- 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!
- Waving their flags in song and celebration!
- Only YOU can keep the “U” in the U.S.A.!
- U.S.A.!
- “Freedom! Liberty! It starts with you and me!”
- Libby loves seeing students excited to sing along to her tour anthem!
- We are immensely appreciative for Representative Susan Debose and her generous contribution to supporting our programs!
- We can’t thank these amazing teachers and donors enough for their role in shaping the Next Great Americans!
- Libby loves posing with Amy Polk and Peg Hill from the Board of Education, Captain Denver McCool, Mayor Cody Sumners, Charlotte Meadows with the Republican Women of Shelby County!
- We had a blast today with these Shelby County 2nd grade students!
- These students are excited to meet Libby Liberty!
- Libby loved getting to visit the students of Shelby County!
- Shelby County 2nd grade students are excited to pose with Libby Liberty™
- Libby gets a picture with these amazing students after the kickoff.
- These Shelby County 2nd grade students are destined for greatness as they start their Hands on Liberty Journey!
- Libby loved getting to visit the students of Shelby County!
- These great citizens are about to start their Hands on Liberty journey.
- We had a blast today with these Shelby County 2nd grade students!
- Libby gets a picture with these amazing students after the kickoff.
- These students are excited to meet Libby Liberty!
- Libby had a blast today with these students from Shelby County 2nd graders!!













































