POWERGRAMS

EDUCATION Liberty's Mario Jackson, Eufaula Elementary School Principal Girtman, Liberty's Cynthia Green and Bellamy with teachers' kits for classroom. Employees join Lady Liberty teaching American principles L ady Liberty has stepped off her pedestal in New York harbor to carry her message of freedom and hope to the next generation. Last fall, Alabama Power's Southeast Division employees played a leading role in piloting the "Super Citizen" program at Eufaula Elementary School. Using the Statue of Liberty as the focal point, the program helps teach students American history and civics, along with character building, finances and career development. The eight-week program, developed by Liberty Learning Foundation, targeted Eufaula Elementary School's 250 fifthgraders. The goal, said Southeast McAndrews, left, with Lady Liberty and Bellamy, who was chosen a "Super Citizen." Division Area Manager Ralph finest through local American Georgia Pacific and the Monroe Bellamy, is to help students learn citizens lending a hand to help County Education Foundation. to value the ideals and principles others." The Kiwanis Club is providing on which the United States was When students completed the volunteers in the classrooms. founded. program last December, Lady Eastern Division will launch "When I was introduced to this Liberty returned for a victory the program in five Anniston program, I quickly saw it offered celebration. Students promised to schools. Additionally, Birmingham us an opportunity to do more than do their part to preserve liberty Division will target two schools just hand out a check. It gave us and freedom in America by taking in Shelby and West Jefferson a chance to make a difference in the Super Citizen Pledge. counties. the lives of children and thereby Each class named three people "This program teaches young in the communities we serve," from the community they believed people that our freedom is a Bellamy said. "We are making an are true "Super Citizens." These precious gift," said Beth Thomas, investment in the community that community leaders were presented Mobile Division External Affairs is truly bigger than our bottom a replica of the Statue of Liberty manager. "These young people line, because it has the potential to that contains a tiny piece of need to realize that our future change lives." material preserved during the freedom depends on them." Arriving in a bus, Lady Liberty Statue of Liberty's centennial Patti Yancey, president of the kicked off the program with a restoration. Liberty Learning Foundation, said pep rally. Teachers, joined by six "We talk a lot about what kind the success of the pilot program Southeast Division employees, of legacy we'll leave," said Bellamy, in Eufaula is due in large part to led students using videos, lesson who was honored as a Super Alabama Power's leadership in the plans, hands-on projects and other Citizen. "To me, I felt like I did community. educational tools. something that's going to last "You guys at Alabama Power "The impact on the kids was like well beyond my years on Earth. I have a culture that allows your nothing I have ever seen before," could see in the eyes of those kids employees to be involved in a said Eufaula Program Manager they learned something they will program like ours," Yancey said. Michelle McAndrews. "They reflect on as adults. Hopefully, the "You are already so connected were really engaged, retained the program will motivate them to go with communities, and people information and looked forward on and do great things." recognize that you are involved. to the next lesson." When the statue was Having a company like Alabama Eufaula Elementary School refurbished in the 1980s, Liberty Power that is embedded in the Principal Reeivice Girtman said Learning founder Davis Lee community, is what opened Alabama Power and the Liberty purchased some of the discarded the door for us and convinced Learning Foundation have made materials to educate children the school to take a look at our an "indelible mark" on students' nationwide about their heritage program." lives. and civic responsibility. "The staff of Alabama Power With the success of the program By Carla Davis has supported our school every in Southeast Division, Alabama step of the way," said Girtman. "In Power employees companywide addition to tremendous financial are taking up the torch this spring. support, company workers Mobile Division employees are volunteered their valuable time conducting the program for 325 to come and assist teachers in fifth-graders at Monroe County implementing the program. Our public schools. students have been able to see The effort is a partnership with patriotism and citizenship at its PAGE 5

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