Participants in Endeavor Elementary School fourth-graders’ program, “What Makes Alabama Special?,” included teachers Lori McCoy, from left, and Cindy Pressnell, assistant principal Jenny McAlister, teachers Marlo Freeman and Pamela Henson and Sen. Bill Holtzclaw. (CONTRIBUTED)

HARVEST – To celebrate the 195th ‘birthday’ of Alabama’s statehood, fourth-graders at Endeavor Elementary School asked “What Makes Alabama Special?”

Leading to their celebration, students used hands-on learning to discover Alabama’s stake in science, technology, personalities, agriculture, industry, Native American history and tourism.

Fourth-grade lead teacher Marlo Freeman coordinated the program with help from room parents Jessica Kjelshus and Beth Trees. Endeavor principal Marilyn Hicks opened the celebration for Alabama’s statehood on Dec. 14, 1819.

Representatives from all fourth-grade classes presented their findings in dioramas about Native Americans and the Trail of Tears, reports about famous Alabamians and hand-drawn designs about industry.

State Sen. Bill Holtzclaw attended and explained why his job is important to Alabama. “I’m one of 35 state senators and represent about 140,000 residents,” Holtzclaw said. “I work hard to listen to the people I represent and ensure their concerns are heard in Montgomery. I’m the ‘voice’ of a lot of people.”

Emphasizing this area’s diversity, Holtzclaw asked students to raise their hand if they were not born in Alabama. About half of the students raised their hands; some shared their birth state. “A few were even born in another country and had dual citizenship (parents in military),” Holtzclaw said.

When students presented Condoleezza Rice as an important Alabamian, Holtzclaw shared his acquaintances with Rice in Washington D.C.

“The program concluded with the fourth-graders’ beautiful rendition of the Alabama state song, ‘Alabama,’ a poem by Julia S. Tutwiler written in 1869 and put to music in 1917,” Trees said.

Each student received a ‘birthday present,’ including an Alabama map from the Department of Transportation, an Alabama pencil, tourism brochures from the Huntsville visitors bureau and Alabama-shaped cookies made by Endeavor parent Susan Spehar.

Holtzclaw said Endeavor did a wonderful job (with) interesting topics about Alabama’s history, culture and importance.

The celebration taught students about special characteristics making Alabama unique. “They also learned they’re important Alabamians, because they play a role with helping Alabama maintain its tradition of excellence,” Trees said.