Today, 2nd graders from Chelsea Park & Forest Oaks Elementary Schools filled the Shelby County Arts Council Auditorium. 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 Shelby County students are excited to honor their heroes and get their Helping Hands graduation certificates!
- Excited to celebrate, honor heroes, and take their pledges!
- Shelby County 2nd grade students are getting ready to honor their heroes!
- Evan & Wyatt lead everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance.
- Kilynn tells everyone why her mom, Nurse Amanda Brooks is chosen as a Helping Hands Hero
- Maisyn honored a true hero, her dad, Paris Jackson . It was an honor to have such a super citizen at our celebration!
- Gino took the mic to tell us all about his Helping Hands Hero, his dad Jimmy Graebner!
- Assistant Principal Jessi Adams is the Helping Hands Hero for Cece and her friends at Chelsea Park Elementary School!
- Gabe Morris’ daughter Courtney shares that her dad is kind and helpful and this is just a couple of the reasons she chose him as a Helping Hands Hero.
- Alice told us all about howSchool Counselor Carrie Cashion lets her light shine! That is why she chose her as a Helping Hands Hero!
- Charlotte told us about her Helping Hands Hero: her mom, Amanda Doering!
- Bentley shared why Forest Oaks Elementary’s reading coach, Mrs. Amanda Burks was chosen as a Helping Hands Hero!
- Emerson & Claire share all about why Reading Interventionist Taylor Colburn is honored as a Helping Hands Hero!
- Joseph Yates is a great example of what a Super Citizen is and that is why his daughter Lilly chose him as her Helping Hands Hero!
- Ruth Anne took the mic to tell us all about why they chose Russell Bentley as their Helping Hands Hero!
- Judah & Kate share all about why their School Counselor Anne Marie Perrin is honored as a Helping Hands Hero!
- Leading the crowd in song!
- 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!
- Singing loud and proud!
- These students are singing our tour anthem loud and proud!
- Only YOU can keep the “U” in the U.S.A.!
- Students and teachers alike singing along to our tour anthem!
- These students are excited to sing along to our tour anthem!
- Singing along to our tour anthem!
- Students and teachers alike singing along to our tour anthem!
- Chelsea Mayor Cody Sumners singing along with these students!
- All smiles singing along to our tour anthem!
- “Freedom! Liberty! It starts with you and me!”
- U.S.A.!
- We were honored to spend the morning celebrating with our heroes, students, donors, and special guests. Thank you to Peg Hill – Shelby County School Board Member, Nathan Kendrick- Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, Mayor Cody Sumners – City of Chelsea, Forest Oaks Elementary Principal Stevi Sims, & Jessi Adams Assistant Principal at Chelsea Park Elementary for celebrating with us!
































