Today, 2nd graders from Arcadia Elementary, Skyland Elementary, & Southview Elementary Schools filled the Paul W. Bryant High School 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 Tuscaloosa 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 Tuscaloosa City students are excited to honor their heroes and get their Hands on Liberty graduation certificates!
- Avery, Ramona, & Ra’len lead everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance.
- Serenity shares with everyone all the reasons Aradia 2nd graders chose Twyla Coleman as their Helping Hands Hero.
- JaMarcus Wells is honored as an Arcadia Helping Hands Hero and KJ tells us all about him.
- Skyland Assistant Principal Robert Ray is chosen as a Helping Hands Hero for all he does for his school community and Anahi tells us all about him.
- Shaloh tells us all about why she and her friends at Skyland chose School Nurse Cheryl Pearson as a Helping Hands Hero.
- Southview Principal Ronika Amerson is chosen as a Helping Hands Hero and Kameria tells everyone all the reasons why!
- Xavier tells us how his baseball coach, Jack Alford exemplifies what a true hero looks like!
- Pledging to be a Helping Hand!
- Mr. Palmer says “you’ve gotta do good to be good,” and these students pledged to do just that.
- Taking their Helping Hands pledge!
- Super Citizens lead everyone in our tour anthem.
- The students filled the room with their voices as they sang “YOU in the USA.”
- Singing along to our tour anthem!
- “Freedom! Liberty! It starts with you and me!”
- We love seeing the students excited to sing along to our tour anthem!
- Only YOU can keep the “U” in the U.S.A.!
- Singing along to our tour anthem!
- These students are excited to sing along to our tour anthem!
- Only YOU can keep the “U” in the U.S.A.!
- Singing loud and proud!
- U.S.A.!
- These students are singing our tour anthem loud and proud!
- These students are excited to sing along to our tour anthem!
- Waving their flags in song and celebration!
- Students, heroes, and guests alike singing along to our tour anthem!
- U.S.A.!
- We were honored to spend the morning celebrating with our heroes, students, donors, administrators, and special guests. Thank you to Keith Summerford Instructional Technology Specialist & Co-lead Social Studies Curriculum for celebrating with us!
- Fun picture celebrating their hero!





























