CULLMAN, Ala. – On Friday, May 9, middle schoolers across Cullman County participated in The Liberty Learning Foundation’s American Character Program. Designed to introduce students to essential life skills and civic responsibilities, the program explores character building, financial literacy, career development, community engagement and the “Great American Story.”
Students also participated in the #GoodCharacters service learning project, which allowed them to design and implement different community service projects. They showcased their work at a student-led expo, where they presented their service ideas, outcomes and personal growth to their families, friends and other members of the community.
“The overall goal of this program and the service learning project is to grow strong, involved and active citizens who see a need and want to be the answer. The biggest takeaway for the students is learning that being a servant is not limited by age; they can begin now and serve their communities for the rest of their lives. The impact of service is far reaching, no matter the size of the project,” said Liberty Learning Foundation Regional Educator Tanya Beard.
Six Cullman County schools participated in this year’s expo, including Good Hope, Cold Springs, Parkside, West Point, Holly Pond and Hanceville. Good Hope Middle School hosted the morning session for Cold Springs and Hanceville students, and the afternoon session was held at West Point for Holly Pond and Parkside students.
Students worked in groups of three to six, each coming up with various ways to serve the community, from cleaning schools to spending time at nursing homes to various supply drives benefiting local nonprofit organizations. Throughout the semester, Beard visited each school’s civics classes to teach an introduction and planning session to help students understand what the program is, identify needs within the community, help students develop storyboards to highlight their projects and impact and conduct a professional skills workshop that taught soft skills such as handshakes, eye contact, confident speaking and clear communication.
“There is no greater role in life than the role of servant,” said Beard. “Being involved in your community affects the person and those being served. If we teach our youth this truth today, they will pass it on to future generations.”
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